Organ Interlude and Fugue

This is a combination of two pieces, the interlude was written way before the fugue was, but they match up pretty well. The themes are sort of similar too, which is kind of creepy. some people here have probably heard the interlude already, but i'm not sure about the fugue.

The fugue isn't exact with theoretical standards... but music theory is just theory, and theories can be interpreted many ways. I don't really want to sound exactly like bach anyway...

The midi files might be a bit messy, but all the notes are there... i hope. :rolleyes:

download the mp3 here

hehe

comments always appreciated!

FUGUE.MID

INTRLUDE.MID

Very enjoyable to listen to. The opening theme of the Interlude, with its almost Ars Nova feel, catches the ear right away, and as usual, you develop it beatifully. I honestly know of no other living composer who develops thematic materially as well as you do, Jeff. The convergence of the voices into concentric clusters focusing gradually to a perfect unison at around 2:20 is a moment of inspiration, as is the recapitulation immediately following - to say nothing of the remarkable change of tonality at 2:57. Pure magic.

The Fugue isn't textbook, true, yet somehow I don't care (imagine, me not caring about such a thing!). It's well done. The contrasts between the cantabile, legato passages and the sprightlier material is wonderful, and the augmentations starting around 4:30 are brillliant.

I found it very interesting that you chose to use nothing but a single flute stop (4' spitzflote?) throughout the entire work. Somehow the lack of colour contrast didn't bother me, because you make up for it with a pleasing palette of harmonic colours. I must admit, however, that I was secretly hoping you'd open up the plein orgue replete with 16' bombarde in the pedal toward the end of the fugue! :rolleyes:

Well done, Jeff. I'm impressed as always.

Oh...and where on earth did you find that fabulous organ sample?????!!!! Surely you know how many of us would cheerfully kill for a sample that good.

:rolleyes: wow!!! splendid !!!! delightful and skilled work!

:rolleyes: WOW 2!!!! just now i listened to the mp3 file!!!!!!!! oh God how beautiful piece Jeff!!!! i loved the interlude, but with the fugue you have stunned me!!!! the harmonies are supernatural, ethereal, you create a fascinating atmosphere!!! the musical discourse is dazzlingly fluent, faultlessly coherent, and touchingly beautiful, the counterpoint is just wonderful and the flute stop sounds like an angelic concert!!!! my warmest congrats for this masterpiece!

do you have other pieces? i would love to listen to!

Nifty. I'd heard the almost-fugue someplace before, but it's even more effective combined with this little Interlude. Enjoyed that; thanks.

As you might well expect, my comment on this would probably be to call you a rude name and tell you I hate you. But this is a moderated board, and thus my colourfulness must be moderated... But then, if you can, as Graham points out, keep the piece in a single register, who am I to want to change my stops?

Excellent.

Nice job, Jeff! Now, are you an organist? An organ prelude like this is pretty common, especially as improvised preludes, as I do in my church. You seem to know what sounds good on an organ- the held chords and wandering dissonances, and the open 5s and stuff. Can you play this?

Musical kanibalism.

This piece caused a little personal crisis. It took a while to figure it out, and I'm not proud of it.

I listened to it over and over again and experienced a certain awe. Love the interlude to bits. The "fugue" evoked agression and I couldn't figure out why. Till I cut the mp3 in two.

The Interlude (to me) eats the "fugue" skin and bone. I love hate the last part. Love the sensitive skill, hate the hammering vertical notes, love the augmentations, hate the slight baroke odor of the "fugue", etc etc.

So... I find myself hating something I don't understand...

where have I seen that before :P (I'm not proud of it)

bottomline: Love the interlude - like the fugue, but cut the two pieces loose. PLEASE ;)

I'm not as familiar with organ technique as some here, but I certainly did enjoy this work. I was surprised that you kept the registers so high in the fugue, but it was still quite enjoyable.

I loved the wandering quality to the Interlude. In the middle there, it seemed as if the piece were slowing down bit by bit, until the organist suddenly jerks himself awake again and starts the coda. Pretty cool stuff! :)

Very nicely done.