Durufle Fugue On The Carillon Des Heures...

[Malcolm Kemp]

This piece is in 6/8 time yet the metromone marking is (undotted) crotchet equals 100. I tend to feel that dotted crotchet equals 100 goes better with the marking of Allegro Moderato yet I like the slower tempo (equating roughly to dotted crotchet equals approx 67. Probably I am happiest with a midway compromise. I know it is easy to follow what others do on recordings and I know you should take into account the building and the instrument but I whould be interested to hear what other Board members think. Is there a misprint?

 

Thanks

 

Malcolm

[CT_Worcester]

I may be way off the mark here, but I think John Scott's recording of the piece at St Paul's is nearer 100 dotted crotchets pm than 67, even in so resonant a building as that. Haven't listened to the piece for while, however.

 

Henry

[Guest Roffensis]

It's worth hearing the Walter Hillsman Coventry recording as well.

 

R

[Ronald Bayfield]

This piece is in 6/8 time yet the metromone marking is (undotted) crotchet equals 100. I tend to feel that dotted crotchet equals 100 goes better with the marking of Allegro Moderato yet I like the slower tempo (equating roughly to dotted crotchet equals approx 67. Probably I am happiest with a midway compromise. I know it is easy to follow what others do on recordings and I know you should take into account the building and the instrument but I whould be interested to hear what other Board members think. Is there a misprint?

 

Thanks

 

Malcolm

Having visited Soissons and heard the actual carillon I think dotted quarter=67 is a bit on the fast side.

[Richard Fairhurst]

Absolutely! There's a recording of the Soissons carillon on Wikipedia though sadly in a rather obscure file format.

 

I like the fugue best at about dotted crotchet=90 - maybe a little faster, but to my ears, 100 doesn't give it enough space to breathe.

[Malcolm Kemp]

Thanks you all the interesting comments above. As a matter of interest, does anyone know whether the theme played by the bells (the fugue subject) is orginal or whether it comes from a pre-existent melody, perhaps a French hymn tune or song? I've been unable to establish this from any other source and I tend to agree with James Frazier's book on Durufle that the edition of the fugue currently available is not terribly helpful or erudite.

 

Malcolm