Little Fugue: Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones (AATB) Score & Parts

The Little Fugue's architectural elegance translates beautifully to saxophone quartet, and Marlatt's arrangement preserves Bach's contrapuntal integrity while giving each voice genuine independence. The medium-difficult level keeps the piece accessible without dumbing down the musical challenge; every player is solving real voice-leading problems throughout.

Intricate and purposeful. The familiar subject emerges and re-emerges like a theme glimpsed from different angles, while the supporting voices weave around it with mathematical precision yet genuine musicality. There's an intellectual satisfaction in tracking how Bach distributes the melodic weight across all four voices.

Saxophone quartets ready to tackle substantial Baroque material and musicians who want to deepen their understanding of fugal writing. This works for advanced high school ensembles or college groups seeking repertoire that challenges without overwhelming.

• Balance the voices by thinking horizontally rather than harmonically. Each saxophonist is carrying a complete melody, so resist the urge to support the line next to you. The cohesion comes from precise rhythm and voice independence, not from dynamic blending.
• Establish the subject firmly in your first entrance, then commit to maintaining its character every time it returns, even when other voices are active around you. The listener's ear depends on recognizing this melodic anchor.
• Address the baritone part's low A requirement early in rehearsals. If your player doesn't have the low A key, begin arranging alternate octaves now rather than scrambling at performance time.

Pair this with other Baroque arrangements to build a thematic concert, or program it as a formal centerpiece that showcases ensemble discipline and unity. The Little Fugue's fame means audiences recognize it immediately, which can delight concert-goers even if they've never thought about attending a saxophone quartet concert before.

• Voice independence and sustained melodic responsibility within a four-part texture
• Recognition and execution of fugal subject entries across multiple transpositions
• Rhythmic precision and entrances under contrapuntal conditions
• Balance and projection when your voice is primary versus secondary to the musical argument
• Listening for harmonic movement while maintaining linear integrity