The Exposition

 

• The Exposition is the first formal unit in a fugue.

• This unit consists of one statement of the subject in each voice. The order of the voices varies greatly

• These statements will alternate in the keys of the Tonic and the Dominant.

• The second statement is called the Answer. The Answer can be either tonal or real.

• Frequently, the second statement (in the Dominant) will be followed by a brief bridge, or link. The purpose of this bridge is to modulate back to tonic.

• The Exposition is concluded when the final voice has stated the subject.