`  ::::I'm a composer and frequently write fugues on scratch paper to practice my counterpoint and ability to compose away from the piano.  The problem is not a lack of understanding on my part.  I can hum the tune of the Bach's Art of Fugue.  Likewise, you could probably hum the tune of ``A British Tar`` from Pinafore despite it being polyphonous. I'm saying that it is not necessary to hum every voice concurrently to claim to be able to hum something, especially since a fugue only has (usually) one or two melodies despite it having multiple *voices*.   `