What is a Stretto?

A stretto is a technique used in fugues in which the subject entries overlap more closely than in the exposition, so that a second voice enters with the subject before the first voice has finished. This creates a denser, more intense contrapuntal texture.

In a stretto, the overlapping entries of the subject often occur at different pitch levels or in different voices, creating tension and excitement. The closer the entries are, the more dramatic and energetic the passage becomes. Stretto is often used toward the end of a fugue to heighten momentum and emphasize the subject.

Stretto is widely employed in Baroque fugues, particularly by composers like Johann Sebastian Bach, to intensify climactic moments. By overlapping subject entries, the fugue achieves a sense of urgency and polyphonic complexity, reinforcing the thematic material and providing a satisfying structural and emotional conclusion.