John Prescott

Toccata and Fugues

The fugues referred to in the title are not the musical kind, but psychogenic fugues in a medical sense. This is when a patient seemingly embarks on a completely new life for months or even years, not remembering any aspect of the one left behind. In this regard, the trumpets in this composition play fragments of materials that seem to have nothing to do with the organ toccata which is interspersed. As the piece continues, however, the trumpets move to the organ console, and are pulled more and more into the organ texture, joining with it at the end. Very effective!