News & Views Sunday, December 08, 2024

The Merry Organ and More from Morning Star Music Tuesday, October 22, 2024

recommended by Christopher B., Organ Music Specialist

The Merry Organ arr. Matthew H. Corl
A line from the English carol “The Holly and the Ivy” serves as the inspiration and title for this delightful work. The “Merry Organ” presents the carol in styles idiomatic to the organ including fugue and toccata. Sure to be a wonderful addition to a holiday service or concert.

O Come, All Ye Faithful (5 Organ Settings for Advent and Christmas) arr. Clay Christiansen
Five carol settings representative of the composer’s performances as organist of the Mormon Tabernacle. Wonderful additions to worship services or special programs. Titles include: “Away in a Manger,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” “Once in Royal David’s City,” and “Silent Night.”

Christmas Joy (Two Festive Carol Settings for Organ) arr. Janise White
“Fantasy on How Great Our Joy” received its premiere at the London Winter Festival of Sound 2022 in London, England at the Croydon SDA Church by composer and organist, Professor Janise White. This organ work represents an exhilarating work of joy and adoration to our Saviour, Lord and King. As a clarion call for Christmas, soft flutes carry the melody over a dreamy pentatonic configuration with a drone in the pedals. Staccato trumpets exhibit the “joy” chordal motif, repeating and swelling to a joyous cadenza on the pedals in toccata style. This jubilant moment continues to intensify as syncopated harmonies join the final verse in elongation on 32′ pedals to its majestic close.

“Toccata on In Dulci Jubilo” is designed as a short Organ Postlude performed during the Advent/Christmas Season. The work opens with a medley of Carols including Joy To The World, Angels We Have Heard On High, and Silent Night, before leading to the exuberant “In Dulci Jubilo” (Good Christian Men Rejoice)! White’s arrangement of “In Dulci Jubilo,” a 1328 German Chorale theme is combined with the magnificent accompaniment of Charles-Marie Widor’s famous Toccata from Symphony No. 5 (1879). It appears in 6/8 meter as opposed to the original 4/2 meter. Tritonic interludes intercept the flow of the German Carol alternately, propelling the music to its rousing end.

Variations on “O du Fröhliche” (Sicilian Mariners) arr. Nicholas Schmelter
These variations are based on the familiar European melody given many names: O du fröhliche; O Sanctissima; and The Sicilian Mariners Hymn. Inspired by the compositional flavor of Robert Hebble and Leo Sowerby, “Variations on O du fröhliche” provides listenable, fun-to-play perspectives among a modern-day polyphonic treatment.

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About the Author:
Christopher B. grew up in eastern Kentucky in a musically diverse family, and began playing organ at the age of 12. He majored in vocal performance with minors in keyboards and conducting at Marshall University and later received a Master of Theological Studies in congregational ministry from Trinity Lutheran Seminary. Christopher has served as a church music director and organist for more than 20 years, presently serving as Director of Music and Worship Arts/Organist at Church of the Master United Methodist in Westerville, OH.

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