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noun Very common

comes

KOH-meez
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Comes (noun) means In a fugue, the melodic answer that responds to the opening theme (the "dux"), usually entering in a different voice a few beats later. Example: “The comes enters in the alto line, echoing the opening subject a fifth higher.”

noun
1
In a fugue, the melodic answer that responds to the opening theme (the "dux"), usually entering in a different voice a few beats later.
"The comes enters in the alto line, echoing the opening subject a fifth higher."
"A student composer must learn how the comes should imitate, but not simply repeat, the dux."
"In the second bar, the comes answers the subject a fifth higher in the tenor voice."

How to use comes

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA specialist music-theory term for the "answering" line that follows and imitates the main theme in a fugue.

Memory tip

You will only meet this word in the context of classical music theory, specifically fugues (Bach is the classic example).

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Common pairings
the comes answers the dux entry of the comes
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ enters in the alto line, echoing the opening subject a fifth higher.

Etymology

From Latin comes, "a companion" — the same root that gives us "count" (the noble title) and the French comte and conte.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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answer fugal answer companion

Related words

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Frequently asked questions

What does “comes” mean?
The word “comes” means in a fugue, the melodic answer that responds to the opening theme (the "dux"), usually entering in a different voice a few beats later. In plain terms, a specialist music-theory term for the "answering" line that follows and imitates the main theme in a fugue.
How do you pronounce “comes”?
“Comes” is pronounced KOH-meez (/ˈkəʊmiːz/ in IPA).
How do you use “comes” in a sentence?
Here is “comes” used in a sentence: “The comes enters in the alto line, echoing the opening subject a fifth higher.”
What part of speech is “comes”?
“Comes” is a noun.
Where does the word “comes” come from?
The word “comes” comes from Latin. From Latin comes, "a companion" — the same root that gives us "count" (the noble title) and the French comte and conte.
Is “comes” a common word?
“Comes” is a very common word in modern English.
What is the difference between the comes and the dux in a fugue?
In a fugue, the 'dux' (Latin for leader) is the opening statement of the subject, the main theme. The 'comes' (companion) is the answer that follows, imitating the subject in another voice, usually a few beats later and in a different key. Dux leads, comes replies.
Is the comes the same as the fugal answer?
Yes. 'Comes' is the traditional Latin name for the answer in a fugue, the voice that responds to the opening subject by restating it, typically at a different pitch. Music theorists use 'comes' and 'answer' interchangeably, with 'answer' being the more common English term today.
Why does the comes enter in a different key?
The comes usually answers a fifth higher, or a fourth lower, than the subject, entering around the dominant. This shift sets up a satisfying tension between the two keys and creates the interweaving, imitative texture that defines a fugue. The answer may be adjusted slightly, a tonal answer, to fit the harmony.

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