That
is a clip of J.S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565 from Disney’s
famous 1940 Fantasia. Many people
know this work, either from this movie, from a variety of other movies,
television shows, or video games, or maybe you’ve even heard in on our Tunes from the Crypt each Halloween.
While this work may be familiar, I would bet most people do not know that it
was originally composed for organ by Bach! Today let’s look at what exactly it
means to be a toccata and fugue and then have some fun watching this famous
work’s appearance in a variety of places!
A
toccata is a keyboard composition that developed during the sixteenth century
as a work containing elaborate and rapid passages, sometimes even containing
imitative counterpoint (a melody appearing in different voice parts). Bach
often paired toccatas with his fugues. How does the fugue work? A musical
subject begins the piece. After stating its opening theme, a second line of
music enters, answering the subject by imitating the same theme at a different
pitch level. The fugue can contain any number of independent lines of music,
imitating the main subject and all working together musically. Between entries
of the subject in the composition, you may hear musical “episodes” that
elaborate the main theme and add interest for the listener.
Now
let’s have some fun. Do you hear Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor in these
clips?
Wonder Years: Begin at 10:41
Spongebob: Begin at 2:45
Donkey Kong Jr.: Begin at 0:01
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Begin at 0:12
The
above examples are just a few of many occurrences of this work in pop culture.
Have you heard it in The Office? Or
what about Malcolm in the Middle, The Tree of Life, Dr. Who or 7 Faces of Dr. Lao?
