Fugue (Op 62, No 3)

Craig Sellar Lang (13 May 1891 – 24 Nov 1971) was born in New Zealand and was a student of Walter Parratt and Charles Villiers Stanford. He received his Doctorate of Music from The University of Durham. In 1929 he was appointed Director of Music at Christ's Hospital school in Horsham, West Sussex. His instructional works, aimed at students, were highly influential and generations of organists were brought up on these.

Published by Novello in 1962, the Opus 62 "Prelude, Pastorale and Fugue" is a set of three works which Lang states "are suitable for performance as a Suite, or they may be used separately as voluntaries... The Fugue should begin on Great 8' and 4' quietening to Swell 8', 4' and 2' at the beginning of the E minor section. A gradual crescndo should be built up on pager 10 and continued on page 11 where the two fugue subjects are combined."

The final of these three works is a brief, but interesting, fugue. Beginning simply it works its way towards full organ to bring this opus to a triumphant conclusion.

This year 2021 marks the 50th year of his passing. I hope to learn several of his lesser performed works and share them online - I do hope you will follow along on this adventure!