Flight for solo organ

Prelude - Flight - Dance

Flight was inspired by a scene from F.W. Murnau’s silent film version of the Faust legend. In the scene, Mephisto conjures up for Faust a vision of the beautiful Duchess of Parma. Faust immediately wishes to go to her, and Mephisto invites him to step on his cloak for a magic carpet-like ride across the countryside, passing varied landscapes, to her castle. On arrival they find the Duchess’s wedding party in full flow, with dancing and elephants; Mephisto presents Faust to her.

Originally written to be performed with the film scene by a small instrumental ensemble at Dartington International Festival & Summer School in 2002, the music was reworked as an independent organ composition in 2025.

After a mysterious introductory prelude, toccata-like figuration and different registers depict motion through air in the central Flight. The final section features a ground bass underpinning a quasi-medieval dance.

Notwithstanding the initial inspiration, the work could also find a liturgical function in, for instance, depicting the rushing wind of Pentecost; and responding to Psalm 50’s exhortation to praise with cymbals and dancing.

First performance: Simon Hogan, organ, St Bride's Church Fleet Street London 26 March 2026 (JAM Music Of Our Time concert)

(c) Copyright 2025 Brian Andrew Inglis