Fugue(?) for Organ (1968)

David C. Bugli (b. 1950) — Fugue(?) for Organ (1968)

The composer writes: “‘Fugue(?) for Organ’ was written in December 1968, during my freshman year as a music education major at Ithaca College. I had the good fortune of having the opportunity to study composition with Karel Husa and the equal good fortune of having Ron Burke as my roommate. Ron was an oboist and violinist. His energy and spirit of adventure was an inspiration to me. Somehow he managed to find time to take organ lessons, along with everything else he did. So, I wrote this little piece for him, to give him one more challenge. I was not very knowledgeable about musical form at the time, but I thought a fugue would be a very 'Bachish' thing to write for organ. Perhaps it was a round or a fantasy, I thought. I didn’t know, and I was too embarrassed to ask Prof. Husa what it was, so I hedged my bets and put the question mark in the title, and there it is to this day. Thank heavens, the good professor was tolerant of youthful experiments. Enjoy it for what it is.”

David C. Bugli (b. 1950) studied at Ithaca College and the University of Massachusetts. He is the founding music director of the Carson City (Nevada) Symphony and directs the Mile High Jazz Band. In addition to conducting, Bugli plays classical and jazz piano, tuba, and trombone, and composes and arranges music.