Prelude and Fugue

Description

Prelude and Fugue for flute and piano was composed in 1947. The venue and performers for the premiere have not been discovered. However, a holograph at the New York Library for the Performing Arts has “Edith Sagul” handwritten on the score. Sagul was a flautist who premiered Marion’s piano trios. Perhaps this work was written for her. This holograph has pencil emendations. Another holograph is at the Houghton Library at Harvard University (Moldenhauer Archive). In both cases Bauer signed the scores and the notation is in her own hand. The only major difference is a 2/4 measure added after measure 17 (see critical notes) in the NYPL-PA holograph.

In 1948 Bauer arranged the work for solo flute and string orchestra. The premiere of that version was 28 April 1948 with the New York University Orchestra, Laura Spielvogel, flute, conducted by Harold Herremans. The professional-caliber premiere was 19 July 1950 with flautist Ruth Freeman and the Chautauqua Symphony conducted by Franco Autori. The New York City premiere was 7 October 1952, with Philip Dunigan, flute and the New Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maurice Bonney. An orchestral score is at the Philadelphia Free Library (Fleisher Collection). Marion signed the score, but the music notation is not hers. Orchestral parts are at the Mount Holyoke College Archives (Dwight Hall). Although found in a different venue, the notation of the parts appears to be by the same copyist who wrote out the score.

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