This excellent Fugue strikes some commentators as being "uneven" and failing to live up throughout to the "sombre dignity" of its opening and the "splendid sonority" of its close.
English organist and critic, Harvey Grace, "concedes signficantly" that "in spite of its inequalities this fugue gets hold of one in a curious way. Its best parts are so fine that they more than atone for its weaknesses."
Well, since he said it, I guess that it MUST be so... ;-)