Prelude, Air and Fugue in C sharp minor

 

Prelude, Air and Fugue in C sharp minor - (2010)    

for organ

for William Charles Beck

 

The prelude is a simple duetino at the tenth in the natural minor, the right hand being a 4' stop and the left an 8' stop. Thus the separation between the voices is intended to be wider than the notation seems, here a tenth and later in the middle section parallel twelfths. The pedal punctuates the ornamented lines above. As the pedal and trills fall away, the two upper voices become four in close knit voicing.

 

The center section is of a more lyric mood, with the 4' solo above a simple harmonic accompaniment is a filigree of 32nd note runs. The pedal joins the accompaniment as the voicing of the upper part drops an octave.

 

 

The fugue subject is a lively triple rhythm with staccati as a feature of the subject, whose extension reveals the harmonic minor with its raised sixth and seventh of the scale. The answer comes in the dominant, with the beginning of the counterpoint. The two voices extend their counterpoint as the trills of the first section are again heard. The fugue ends with a maestoso section and final allargando for full organ.

 

 

William Charles Beck

 

William Beck, Organist and Director of Music for St. Cyril of Jerusalem Church in Encino, California, earned his B.A. & B.Mus., Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles. He also serves as organist for the Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Los Angeles, and was Winner, 1969 Far-Western Region Organ Playing Competition, American Guild of Organists, as well as Past Dean, Los Angeles Chapter, A.G.O. In a survey conducted by Los Angeles Mission magazine from September through December 2000, St. Cyril of Jerusalem was voted the "Best Parish" for music in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. The article announcing the results noted: "St. Cyril's choir features a 40-plus-voice choir directed by well-known organist and choral conductor, William 'Bill' Beck."

 

7 pages, circa 6' 20" - 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.

 

Prelude, Air and Fugue in C sharp minor