Organ Sonata (2026)

Duration ca. 14' 30" 

Movements: 

I. Fantasia (after ‘J.S. Bach’) - 3' 30" 

II. Scherzo - 2' 00" 

III. Elegy - 5' 30" 

IV. Toccata - 3' 30" 

Written for Patrick Newman, Assistant Organist at Saint Mary’s Cathedral Sydney, and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta 

World Premiere scheduled for mid2026, more info to come soon!

 About the Work: 

I. This movement begins with the opening mordent of the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor, commonly attributed to J.S. Bach (BWV 565). From this gesture emerges something surprising and new. The movement continues to explore and develop various other motifs from the D minor Toccata. 

II. A short and playful scherzo, where the pedals take center stage. Sometimes the manuals form accompaniment, at other times they are in dialogue with the pedals. 

III. This movement is more reflective and dramatic in nature, consisting of a huge central crescendo framed by four-part polyphonic textures, finally landing on a high, soft E flat minor chord; the same chord which ended the first movement. 

IV. A lively ‘moto perpetuo’ toccata influenced by the French style, particularly the toccata of Messiaen’s Dieu Parmi Nous. Familiar ideas return before a triumphant statement of Gloria in excelsis Deo. 

© Adriel Sukumar 2026