[edit] Musical Analysis
[edit] The Prelude
The prelude commences with a semi-quaver scale from the pedals and then, the manuels begin with an intricate quaver pattern between the hands. Another run from the pedals is then followed by a continuation of from the right-hand. The quaver then repeates one octave lower. The pedals then play arpeggiated patters which begin a repeated theme and slow down throughout. This lasts for four bars. A sustained pedal then accompanies the manuels, who have a dotted quaver, semi-quaver rhythm. This then turns into a repeated G♯, B demi-semi-quaver rhythm. This then slows to a series of repeated candences.
A new phrase then begins with an ascending scale in the manuels leading up to a large D major chord. A new tempo is then introduced: Alla breve, and then a large phrase is introduced with a very polyphonic texture and a prominent tune. A section then starts withy chords played in the manuels and the quavers played in the pedals. This continues for another large period of time until the left hand takes the tune and the right hand plays the quavers.
When this section finishes, a new tempo of Adagio begins. A new theme then arrives with slow quaver on the lower manuel and pedal and ascending scales in the upper manuel. The piece then conludes with a slow theme, on broken arpeggios and some slow, elongated final chords.