Music and Texts of GARY BACHLUND
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Ballade and Fugue in D - (2020)
for organ
The ballade is a set of six thematic extensions, ending the sections somewhat differently before returning to the head motive as at measure 7. Repetitions allow for registration changes to show off the instrument's colors. Before the end of the ballade, a soloistic line for the pedal beginning at measure 108 foreshadows the second part of the fugue which follows.
The fugue section in two parts begins at measure 142, the first in canon with itself at the distance of a single measure. The canon then follows classic design, moving to the dominant region after a short episodic passage. Prolongation of the theme follows before another repetition in the dominant before returning to the tonic domain.
The second part is introduced by the same pedal gesture heard earlier to foreshadow this moment, and that becomes the subject for the second part of the fugue, in the tonic and dominant regions. Then at the a tempo at measure 303, the two subjects are combined for a short double fugue before the whole ends, the pedal again asserting itself.
11 pages, circa 8' 30" an MP3 demo is here:
The score is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this organ score.
