Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a


The Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a, is a piece of organ music attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach.
It is a transcription of the last movement of his cantata BWV 131, BWV 131.
The cantata is definitely by Bach, while the arrangement for organ is regarded by some authorities as spurious.
The cantata dates from 1707 or 1708, which almost certainly provides a terminus ante quem for the organ arrangement.

Publication

The piece was published in 1891 in the Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe, the first complete edition of the composer's works. It was edited by Ernst Naumann.

Relationship with the cantata

The key of G minor, sometimes associated with sadness, is used extensively in the cantata, which sets Psalm 130, one of the penitential psalms.

Scoring of the cantata

In the cantata the fugue is sung by the choir.
The score of the cantata does not feature an organ part as such. However, the scoring for the instrumental ensemble includes a basso continuo part, and Bach may well have intended this to be played on the organ. Ton Koopman, for example, in his recording of this cantata uses organ continuo.