This word, leading its origin from the Latin fuga - running, escape, escape - called polyphonic polyphonic piece, written in a special, very strict laws.
I.S. Bach. Well-tempered clavier. Prelude and Fugue in C major
Performs S. Richter
The basis of the Fugue is, as a rule, one musical theme - bright, easy-to-remember. This theme sounds consistently in different voices (an imitation of the main reception building Fugue - you can read the corresponding story). Depending on the number of votes Fugue may be a three-part, four-part, etc.
I. S. Bach. A three-part Fugue in C major
Meet in the music literature of the Fugue, written not one, but two or even three topics. Then they are called, respectively, double and triple.
Fugue is the highest, the most difficult form of polyphonic music. Especially often turned to the Fugue I. S. Bach.
I. S. Bach. Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major BWV 564
Part 2. Adagio
Typically, the Fugue is a miniature cycle together with previous prelude. These cycles, in addition to Bach, wrote and Shostakovich.
Sometimes puffer precede other forms, for example, fantasy, variations or chorale.
I.S. Bach. Toccata and Fugue in d minor, BWV 565
Takes Harry Grodberg (organ)
Fugue can be not only independent work or part of the cycle, but part or episode of major works - symphonies, oratorios, cantatas or Requiem. The Symphony is more common not Fugue in full, final, and build a kind of Fugue, which contains the first conducting themes and then passing in homophonic music warehouse. These builds are called fugato.
I.S. Bach. Toccata and Fugue in d minor ("Dorian")
Takes Karl Richter
Little Fugue is called fugetta.