Prelude and Fugue No. 1

From Organ Playing Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search

by Felix Mendelssohn

Background

"The prelude is a monothematic movement that combines the imitative style of Johann Sebastian Bach and free, nineteenth-century development. The vigorous theme is introduced in the first four measures and recurs in imitation throughout the work."[1]

"The C-minor fugue is the improvisation for Thomas Attwood at St. Paul's Cathedral in 1833 and later arranged for organ duet (1835). Mendelssohn now revised it a third time on 1 December 1836, to make it the initial fugue in his published collection of preludes and fugues for organ. The fugue obviously had a special appeal for Mendelssohn."[2]

Registration and Organs

"Two contrasting dynamic levels alternate throughout the fugue, identifying subject entries and episodes (forte for subject entries in mm. 1-23, 29-45, 51-65 and mezzo forte for episodes in mm. 24-29, 45-51). Although manual changes are not specified, these indications certainly encourage them."[3]

Fingering and Pedaling

Replace this text with any specific information on fingering and pedaling

Articulation and Phrasing

Replace this text with any specific information on articulation and phrasing

Ornamentation

Replace this text with any specific information on ornamentation

Tempo and Meter

"Although the fugue is in 12/8 meter, it is not representative of the giguelike style of fugues by Buxtehude and Bach in the same meter."[4]

Scores and Editions

Replace this text with any specific information on scores and editions

Recordings

Replace this text with any specific information on recordings

Free Online

Replace this text with any specific information on online recordings that are available free

Pay to Listen

Replace this text with any specific information on online recordings that are available for a fee

Other Resources

Replace this text with any information on other resources pertinent to performing these works

Notes

  1. Seaton, Douglass. The Mendelssohn Companion,London: Greenwood Press, 2001, p.635.
  2. Seaton, Douglass. The Mendelssohn Companion,London: Greenwood Press, 2001, p.635.
  3. Seaton, Douglass. The Mendelssohn Companion,London: Greenwood Press, 2001, p.636.
  4. Seaton, Douglass. The Mendelssohn Companion,London: Greenwood Press, 2001, p.636.

This space is for automatic insertion of footnotes. To enter a footnote from anywhere in the article, start by typing the tag <ref> and then enter the text, and type the tag </ref> to end the footnote. The footnote will then appear in this "Notes" section automatically.