If you’re over a certain age and familiar with American television, you’ll remember the tune “plop plop, fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is” from an Alka-Seltzer commercial (1976 © Miles Laboratories). This jingle was written by Tom Dawes of Twin Star Music and formerly of the 1960’s rock band “The Cyrkle.”
I’ve always thought this jingle would make a good fugue subject, and I began tinkering with it as a hobby. At first I wasn’t happy with the result—I’m no Bach, so fugue writing isn’t my forte—and I set it aside for a few years. But going through some old computer files, I found my unfinished fugue and decided to give it another go. This is the completed version.
Since posting this, I’ve been told I’m not the first one to write a fugue on this theme, and a google search confirmed it. Composer Gary Takesian wrote an organ fugue on this theme. He called it “Fugue on a Theme by Al K. Seltzer.” If you’re aware of any others, let me know. I’m curious to hear these novelties.
Want to hear the original jingle? Click here.
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