Did Miley Cyrus (or her songwriter) write a pretty good fugue subject? Milano-based Italian composer Giovanni Dettori makes a pretty convincing argument with his four-voice arrangement, coaxing ever more ingenious strains from the source material, coalescing “high” and “low” into a modern paean to the baroque.
Visit Dettori’s YouTube channel for more, including some smart contrapuntal variations of Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson, and others. If nothing else, Dettori presents a compelling demonstration of how to incorporate the craft of JSB and his ilk with fugal subjects that most people will recognize – and, given this strong recognition of the subject, might better appreciate the ways that the subject is being countered and altered throughout the composition.
You’ll also find hours’ worth of harmony and counterpoint lessons, which may be useful whether you’re a student, a professor seeking supplementary materials, or simply looking to brush up.
Discover more of Dettori’s work in TV, cinema, and theatre here.
Curtis Perry