Fugit -> Fugue?

I think I vaguely that the latin word for the verb "fly" is something
like "fugit". That is where we get words such as "fugitive". Could that
also be the root of a "fugue"? If so, then what's the connection between
that elaborate form of counterpoint to the concept of flying?

At 4:13 PM -0500 2/9/99, Gary Morrison wrote:
>From: Gary Morrison <mr88cet@texas.net>
>
> I think I vaguely that the latin word for the verb "fly" is something
>like "fugit". That is where we get words such as "fugitive". Could that
>also be the root of a "fugue"? If so, then what's the connection between
>that elaborate form of counterpoint to the concept of flying?
>

It sure does. a "Fuga" is a "flight." The idea behind the fugue is that
the subject should "fly" from voice to voice. The idea is for the listener
to recognize the subject as it does so.

On Tue, 9 Feb 1999, Gary Morrison wrote:

> From: Gary Morrison <mr88cet@texas.net>
>
> I think I vaguely that the latin word for the verb "fly" is something
> like "fugit". That is where we get words such as "fugitive". Could that
> also be the root of a "fugue"? If so, then what's the connection between
> that elaborate form of counterpoint to the concept of flying?
>
It's more like the concept of 'fleeing' -- the one part starts, the other
parts come in and chase it while it runs all over the place, turnes itself
upside-down, etc. Quite descriptive.

judy

>From: Judith Conrad <jconrad@sunspot.tiac.net>
>
>On Tue, 9 Feb 1999, Gary Morrison wrote:
>
>> From: Gary Morrison <mr88cet@texas.net>
>>
>> I think I vaguely that the latin word for the verb "fly" is something
>> like "fugit". That is where we get words such as "fugitive". Could that
>> also be the root of a "fugue"? If so, then what's the connection between
>> that elaborate form of counterpoint to the concept of flying?
>>
>
Gary is correct in his etymology. More specifically, I believe the Latin
form means fly in the sense of to flee or run away. Thus one voice is
running after the other in imitative counterpoint. The same is true of the
medieval/ renaissance form known as the "chase."

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> It's more like the concept of 'fleeing' -- the one part starts, the other
> parts come in and chase it while it runs all over the place, turnes itself
> upside-down, etc. Quite descriptive.

Thanks for the responses!