Charles Villiers Stanford
Preludes and Fugues (3), Op. 193
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Composer:Charles Villiers StanfordGenre:KeyboardStyle:FugueAverage_duration:15:26Movement_count:3Movement ....Charles Villiers Stanford's 'Preludes and Fugues (3), Op. 193' is a set of three pieces for organ, composed in 1919. The work was premiered on May 22, 1920, at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, with Stanford himself performing on the organ. The first movement, marked "Allegro moderato," is a Prelude and Fugue in C major. The Prelude is a lively and joyful piece, with a flowing melody and a sense of forward momentum. The Fugue is more complex, with a subject that is introduced in the pedal and then taken up by the manuals. The counterpoint is intricate and the texture is dense, but the overall effect is one of clarity and balance. The second movement, marked "Andante con moto," is a Prelude and Fugue in D minor. The Prelude is a somber and introspective piece, with a haunting melody that is passed between the manuals. The Fugue is more dramatic, with a subject that is introduced in the manuals and then taken up by the pedal. The counterpoint is more dissonant and the texture is more varied, but the overall effect is still one of clarity and balance. The third movement, marked "Allegro vivace," is a Prelude and Fugue in G major. The Prelude is a lively and playful piece, with a jaunty melody that is passed between the manuals. The Fugue is more virtuosic, with a subject that is introduced in the manuals and then taken up by the pedal. The counterpoint is more complex and the texture is more varied, but the overall effect is still one of clarity and balance. Overall, Stanford's 'Preludes and Fugues (3), Op. 193' is a masterful work that showcases his skill as a composer and his deep understanding of the organ. The pieces are technically challenging but also musically satisfying, with a sense of balance and proportion that is characteristic of Stanford's style.More....