Fugue sur le thème du Carillon des Heures de la Cathedrale de Soissons

The Fugue sur le thème du Carillon des Heures de la Cathédrale de Soissons, Op 12, is dedicated to Canon Henri Doyen, organist of the Cathedral at Soissons, and the descending eight-note theme is taken from the carillon there. Duruflé, the contrapuntal craftsman, uses the theme in inversion, augmentation and stretto, by which time the joyful carillon has infused the entire toccata-like texture and the fugue comes to an end in A minor with a series of crashing chords.

from notes by William McVicker © 1990