Thematism of N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov’s fugues op. 17: Bach’s intonation and structural elements

The current study has been done within the framework of the direction that in modern musicology is known as ‘Bahianism’. The authors focus on one of the facets of N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov’s polyphonic creative work, i.t. his piano fugues. The article studies the thematism of fugues op.17 through I.S. Bach’s musical tradition, taking into account the works of famous musicians of the first half of the XXth century, V. Belyaev and B. Sabaneev, as well as of the modern musicologist T. Tverdovskaya. Basing on the comparison method, the authors of the study reveal N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov’s techniques in his work with the motifs of the great German polyphonist’s fugues when creating his own intonation material. In this regard, intonation and structural parameters of the thematism are considered first of all.