The prelude is a Johannes Brahms setting of the "chorale", or hymn, "O God, Thou Faithful God". This is from the collection of 11 chorale prelude settings that Brahms wrote. Although beautifully written (typical of Brahms's perfectionism), he wrote comparatively little for the organ, as compared to his output as a whole.
Read MoreSunday's prelude is a "partita" on the hymn tune, "Liebster Jesu", best known with the text of hymn 440, Blessed Jesus, at thy word", but we will be singing the text of hymn 631 as the processional, as this text complements our reading from Second Timothy. The organ prelude with variations on the tune is by the American contemporary, Jonathan Reuss. A "partita" is generally a suite of dances, but the designation is often loosely applied, and here some of the settings may be in question as far as being "dances".
Read MoreThe organ prelude Sunday is "Air for Organ", by Gerre Hancock, an "air" being a song like vocal or instrumental piece. The rather meditative "air" is stated first, then developed a bit, and then returns in a particularly quiet form. Gerre Hancock (1934-2012) was one of our foremost organists, composer and improvisor, probably most well known for his long held position at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Manhattan, which many hold as the "epitome" of Episcopal Church music.
Read MoreOur prelude Sunday is a meditative "wandering" appropriately called "Contemplation". I have played this before, but it's been a while. The composer is the English organist, pianist, composer, and career educator, Alec Rowley (1892- 1958). The musical style of the piece is typical of his writing in that it is neo-romantic.
Read MoreSunday's organ prelude is a very meditative setting of the hymn, "Cheshire" (581, "Where charity and love prevail..."), by Gordon Slater (1896-1979), who was organist for several prominent English cathedrals. It is worth meditating on the text of the hymn (581).
Read MoreSunday's prelude, "Ah, Jesus Christ with Us Abide", is one of 66 "choral improvisations" (Op. 65) by the early 20th century German composer, Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877-1933), who had a profound knowledge of music theory and wrote in a more or less late romantic style.
Read MoreChoir rehearsals have begun on Wed evenings; if you have any interest in joining us, please see me -- or just appear at 7:15P in the choir room!
Read MoreThe prelude will be based on the day's Gospel hymn, "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name" - a bright setting by Wibur Held, whose music I often use. Mr. Held was prolific and both professor of organ at Ohio State and organist at Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio, for 30 years, living to 100 (d. 2014).
Read MoreThe organ prelude Sunday is a Percy Whitlock setting of "Song 13" (themselves settings of Psalms) by Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625). Whitlock was an English organist and composer whose works only began to gain wide recognition in the latter 20th century. He lived only from 1903-1946, another victim of TB.
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