102. We now have to consider an important class of subjects—those that commence on the dominant. The old rule again was here absolute—that when the subject began on the dominant the answer must begin on the tonic.[1] This rule, like that discussed in §§ 86, 87, is observed by the great masters in the large majority of instances; but numerous exceptions are to be found to it. A few examples of its observance will first be given—
J. S. Bach. Wohltemperirtes Clavier, Fugue 13.
J. S. Bach. Wohltemperirtes Clavier, Fugue 40.
In these answers, which contain no modulation, the first note is the only one which differs from a real answer. The dominant in the third bar of (b) is not answered by the tonic. Sometimes, however (though much more rarely), the dominant is answered by the tonic on its later appearances, as in the following answers—
J. S. Bach. Organ Fugue in E flat (St. Ann's).
Mendelssohn. 'Elijah.'
- ↑ If, however, the dominant was an unaccented note of small value, a real answer was sometimes allowed even by the old theorists.
