Fragment

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Section 11.3 Fragment

While the motive is usually defined as the smallest identifiable melodic idea in a composition, “compound” motives can be broken into fragments (sometimes called “germs”).

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In J.S. Bach’s Invention 1 in C Major I, the opening 7-note compound motive can be divided into two overlapping four-note fragments that can each be developed independently.

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Figure 11.3.1. Fragmentation of motive 1 in C Major Invention

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Here again is the example of development (in augmentation) of fragment “a.”

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Figure 11.3.2. Development of fragment “a” in Invention 1

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In the following example Bach develops an inversion of fragment “b” leading into a cadence in G major.

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Figure 11.3.3. Development of fragment “b” in Invention 1

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