Prelude and Fugue in G Minor, Op. 84

Craig Sellar Lang (13 May 1891 – 24 Nov 1971) was a New Zealand-born British organist, composer and music teacher.

Born in Hastings, New Zealand, CS Lang was educated at Clifton College, and was a pupil of Walter Parratt and Charles Stanford at the Royal College of Music.

He was an ARCM and received his Doctorate of Music from The University of Durham.

Lang returned to Clifton as assistant music master in 1921.

In 1929 he was appointed Director of Music at Christ's Hospital School in Horsham, West Sussex. An obituary recorded his "personal magnetism" and determination to awaken "the budding musicianship of every sort of pupil".

Lang resigned from this post in 1945 in order to devote more time to examining and composition. His instructional works, aimed at students, were highly influential.

Lang's choral music includes service settings (such as the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in B flat, Op.16), and anthems such as He shall give his angels charge over thee (1941). His fine setting of Psalm 8 has remained popular. There are also many anthems for trebles' voices, composed for use at Christ's Hospital, as well as numerous secular choral works.

His best-known work is the "Tuba Tune", a favorite of recitalists. Lang's numerous other works for organ include a Sonata, the Introduction and Passacaglia in A minor (Op.51, 1952), the Fugue-Trilogy (Op. 58, 1952), and many hymn preludes and sets of preludes and fugues.

"Prelude and Fugue in G Minor" was published by Novello in 1960. It's a fine piece - dramatic, colorful, brilliantly suited to the organ, and exciting from start to finish!

Lang appears to be very specific and precise about indicating his rallentandos, or lack there of. In this piece, he seems to want the fugue to drive right through to the end in essentially strict time, and this is the way I played it. :-)

A photo of Lang is attached below, as well as some photos of Christ's Hospital School, where he served as Director of Music.