Composer

:

Otto Olsson

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Prelude & Fugue

Compose Date

:

1910

Average_duration

:

14:04

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Otto Olsson's Prelude and Fugue in C sharp minor, Op. 39 is a two-movement work for organ. It was composed in 1914 and premiered the same year in Stockholm, Sweden. The first movement, the Prelude, is marked Allegro moderato and is in sonata form. It begins with a bold and dramatic statement in the pedal, followed by a series of ascending arpeggios in the manuals. The main theme is then introduced in the manuals, characterized by its rhythmic drive and chromaticism. The second theme is more lyrical and is introduced in the tenor register. The development section explores the themes in various keys and textures, building to a climax before returning to the recapitulation. The movement ends with a coda that brings back the opening pedal statement and ends with a flourish. The second movement, the Fugue, is marked Allegro con fuoco and is a three-voice fugue. It begins with a subject that is characterized by its angular leaps and dotted rhythms. The subject is then imitated in the alto and tenor voices before being developed in various keys and textures. The fugue reaches a climax with a stretto section, where the subject is overlapped and repeated in shorter and shorter intervals. The movement ends with a grand final statement of the subject in the pedal, bringing the work to a powerful close. Overall, Olsson's Prelude and Fugue in C sharp minor, Op. 39 is a virtuosic and challenging work for the organist. It showcases Olsson's skill in writing for the instrument, with its bold pedal statements, intricate manual figurations, and complex counterpoint. The work is also notable for its use of chromaticism and rhythmic drive, which give it a modern and forward-looking character.

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