A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Soggetto

by George Grove

SOGGETTO. The Italian term for 'subject,' as the theme of a movement. Thus in No. 12 of Bach's 'Musikalisches Opfer,' Frederick the Great's theme is called 'Il Soggetto reale.' [See Subject.]

[ G. ]

Appendix:

SOGGETTO (Ital. for a Subject or Theme). The true subject of an orthodox Fugue: as opposed to the Andamento, which is a Subject of abnormal length; and the Attacco, which is a mere Point of Imitation.

In its most regular form, the Soggetto consists of a single homogeneous section; as in No. 1 of 'Das wohltemperirte Clavier.'

Occasionally, however, its division into two sections is very clearly marked; as in No. 7 of the same.

Subjects of this last-named class frequently make a very near approach to the Andamento, Prom which they sometimes differ only in their less extended dimensions. [See Andamento and Attacco in Appendix.]

[ W. S. R. ]