Six fugues d'orgue, Manuscrit de Berlin, vol. 3
After the publication of the 6 fugues for organ or harpsichord, op. VI (1777) and the 6 fugues of the 2nd Journal d'orgue (1784), the Éditions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles offer six new fugues by Jean-Jacques Beauvarlet-Charpentier, collected by a German organist at the end of the eighteenth century, Leodogar Andermath, in a manuscript collection now preserved in Berlin. These six pieces, very skilfully written without obligato pedals, can also be played on the harpsichord or the fortepiano, in church as well as in the concert hall. This new release will be of particular interest to lovers of beautiful French counterpoint – French fugues for keyboard were so rare at that time! – with writing that is sometimes very daring but always pleasing, playful and inventive. Each of these pieces has its own character, some very sparkling, others on the contrary serious or solemn. None of them presents any great technical difficulty. They will make a beautiful impression in concert, or at the end of a service. Teachers of organ, harpsichord and piano will find a new repertoire for their students that will open the door to French classical repertoire. These fugues last about 5 minutes each: three of them are in D minor, and the others are in C minor, C major and G major respectively.