Composer

:

Paul Creston

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Suite

Compose Date

:

1960

Average_duration

:

13:29

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Paul Creston's 'Suite for Organ, Op. 70' is a four-movement work composed in 1956. The piece was premiered on May 5, 1957, by the organist E. Power Biggs at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. The first movement, marked "Prelude," is a lively and energetic piece in 6/8 time. It begins with a fanfare-like motif in the pedals, which is then taken up by the manuals. The music builds to a climax before subsiding into a quieter section, which features a lyrical melody in the upper register of the organ. The movement ends with a return to the opening material. The second movement, marked "Siciliano," is a slow and graceful piece in 12/8 time. It features a flowing melody in the upper register of the organ, accompanied by gentle arpeggios in the lower register. The music gradually builds in intensity before subsiding into a quiet coda. The third movement, marked "Toccata," is a virtuosic and rhythmically complex piece in 4/4 time. It features rapid passagework in both hands and feet, as well as frequent changes of meter and tempo. The music builds to a frenzied climax before ending abruptly. The final movement, marked "Fugue," is a contrapuntal tour-de-force in 3/4 time. It begins with a subject presented in the pedals, which is then taken up by the manuals. The music gradually builds in complexity as additional voices are added, culminating in a grand finale. Overall, Creston's 'Suite for Organ, Op. 70' is a challenging and rewarding work for the organist. It showcases the full range of the instrument's capabilities, from the gentlest whisper to the most thunderous roar. The piece is characterized by its rhythmic vitality, contrapuntal complexity, and lyrical beauty.

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