Maurice Duruflé, wrote only a small body of works for solo organ, but is one of the most important French sacred composers of the 20th century. His Requiem Op. 9 is his most famous work, but he also wrote an important body of solo organ music. He was also famous as an organist, having served as the titulaire of St. Étienne du Mont, as well as having given the premieres of important organ works such as Poulenc's Organ Concerto. His transcriptions of improvisations of his teacher, Charles Tournemire, are also popular concert repertoire today. The Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d'Alain, Op. 7, is perhaps his most played and most substantial solo organ work. Written in 1942, it is dedicated to Jehan Alain, the French organist and composer who was tragically killed in World War II. In order to turn his name into a musical motif, Duruflé invents a musical 'alphabet': the letters a - h are the same as their note names, after which Duruflé repeats the cycle, so i=a, j=b, k=c, l=d, m=e and n=f. Matching this to Alain's surname produces the melodic fragment a-d-a-a-f, which Duruflé subjects to wide variation and development. In addition, in the Prélude, Duruflé bases the second subject on (and later quotes) the theme of Alain's "Litanies", Alain's most popular work. This piece is thus a touching tribute from one great master to another.

Editions Durand/Hal Leonard; 24 pgs, medium/difficult