Fugue and Mode in the Sixteenth Century

This chapter begins with a consideration of the vocabulary for fugal writing used by sixteenth-century authors, compares and contrasts this with the standard vocabulary used for the classic tonal fugue, and explains the book’s approach to the use of all of this terminology. In addition, the modal system as applied to polyphonic composition in the sixteenth century is laid out. Finally, the modern concept of “tonal types,” as described for English-speakers by Harold Powers, is recommended as the best way to talk about mode for the purposes of this book.