William Zeitler's Music Box

Author: william

  • The Cuckoo

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    “The Cuckoo”      L.C. D’Aquin (1694-1772) This Sunday is the last Sunday before Lent. Tuesday is Mardi Gras, which means “Fat Tuesday” in French, so I suppose this Sunday could be “Fat Sunday.” For the occasion I thought something plain-olde fun would be fun — within the bounds of proper-Presbyterianism and the “frozen chosen,”…

  • Greatness

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    Prelude Op.28 No.15 “Raindrop”    F. Chopin (1810-1849) This last week as pondered Martin Luther King, Albert Schweitzer and the Saints in general, and this week’s Gospel text in which a completely unknown Jesus walks into a synagogue and blasts them out of the pews with His message: “The great prophecies for which you have been…

  • Albert Schweitzer

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    Chorale Prelude on “All Glory, Laud and Honor” (the melody is in the pedals)   J.S. Bach (1685–1750) “Oh Morning Star, How Fair and Bright”  Johann Christoph Bach (J.S. Bach’s great uncle, 1642–1703) Question: What do you get when you combine a medical doctor, a renowned concert organist and musicologist, a significant New Testament scholar, a heaping…

  • Mechanical Organs

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    Andante for Mechanical Organ (K616)  W. Mozart (1756-1791) New Years Day in essence celebrates nothing more than the passage of time, climaxing with millions of people watching a really big clock sound midnight (in New York City’s Time Square for example). So I thought ‘clocks’ and a curious connection they have with music might make an appropriate topic…

  • “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”

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    Symphonic Meditation on “Of The Father’s Love Begotten”      W. Zeitler [ORGAN] “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” Improvisation One of the thing I like about the older hymns is that they tend to emphasize the Mystery of Advent/Christmas more than modern ones (in my humble opinion), and there’s something wonder-full about a Christmas song that…

  • Open My Eyes

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    Fugue in C    D. Buxtehude (1637-1707) [ORGAN] "Open My Eyes" M.R. Edward (1810-1865) Improvisation Clara H. Scott (1841-1897), the author of the lyrics for "Open My Eyes" was a Midwesterner, born in Illinois. In 1856 (age 15), Scott attended the first Music Institute held in Chicago by the then well-known C.M. Cady. By 1859…

  • Bach & Pedagogy

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    Organ Trio Sonata in Cm (1st mvmt.)         J.S.Bach (1685-1750) “How Firm a Foundation” Voluntary       F. Gamba  (1705-1740) It was pointed out to me on Reformation Sunday that “you know, the organ can be played quietly too,” to which I replied “Not on Reformation Sunday!” Meanwhile, I thought I’d…

  • Reformation

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    A key principle of the martial arts is that for every ‘strength’ in your opponent there is a weakness you can exploit. (Also known as Yin & Yang.) And, more generally, for every ‘good’ thing you do, there can be an unforeseen negative side effect. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t do ‘good’ in…

  • Mozart’s Advice

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    Andante un poco adagio (KV309) W. Mozart (1756-1791) [PIANO] “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones” Improvisaton Mozart was once approached by a young man who was interested in Mozart’s advice on how to compose a symphony. Since he was still very young, Mozart recommended that he start by composing ballads (songs). Surprised, the young man…

  • Jan Hus

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    Symphonic Meditation on “A Mighty Fortress” W.Zeitler Jan Hus (1369–1415) was one of the earliest reformers — something of a “John the Baptist” laying the groundwork for the Reformation that was to come a century later. Hus was a Czech professor and preacher who — influenced by England’s John Wycliffe (1331–1384) — railed against the…