Contrapunctus 10 Variant [formerly No 14] (Kelleher)
Baroque period. Formerly published as "Contrapunctus 14," this work is actually a variant of Contrapunctus 10 and now carries the title "Contrpunctus 10 Variant." It is definitely not number 14, which is the true final, unfinished Contrapunctus of the "Art of the Fugue." This work had obtained the number "14" most likely as a publication error made sometime after Bach's death. We know that an early keyboard edition, edited by Carl Czerny (1791-1857) included this Contrapunctus 10 Variation as number14. This error has propogated to the current day, resulting in the incorrect titling of this edition. Regardless of its pedigree, this work is solid and substantial, and as a variant of 10, employs all the features of the other fugues of the collection. All of the Contrapuncti were originally written in 4-part SATB open score form, and are now believed to have been intended for performance on the harpsichord. Transcribed in the original key of Dm. -cdp