Author: william
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Ravel’s Sonatine
Sonatine, Mvt. 1 Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) “Guide Me, Oh Thou Great Jehovah” Improvisation In 1903 Ravel wrote the first movement of the Sonatine for a competition sponsored by the Weekly Critical Review magazine after being encouraged by a close friend who was a contributor to that publication. The competition requirement was the composition of the…
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The Sunken Cathedral
La Cathédrale Engloutie (“The Sunken Cathedral”) C. Debussy (1862–1918) By the Babylonian Rivers Extemporisation The people of the Brittany section of France have a legend that a cathedral sank to the bottom of the ocean when the ancient city of Ys was engulfed by the sea as punishment for her evil and foolish ways (a…
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Preludes in C
Prelude in C, “Well Tempered Keyboard” Book 1, No. 1 J.S. Bach (1685-1750) [ PIANO] Prelude in C F. Chopin (1810-1849) “I Have Peace Like a River” Improvisation We continue our series ’water preludes’ (to harmonize with Sandy’s sermon series), but this week I’m resorting to a dubious pun, as we’re in the process of…
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Chopin’s “Raindrop Prelude”
Prelude Op.28 No.15 “Raindrop” F. Chopin (1810-1849) “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” This week we continue our series of preludes on ’water’ themes to coordinate with the sermon series on the same. (Last week, you’ll recall, was “Air” from Handel’s “Water Music”). “When I am gone,” said Chopin to some of his musical friends,…
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Water Music
“Air” from “The Water Music” G. Handel (1685-1759) “As Deer Long for the Streams” Improvisation The Water Music is a collection of orchestral movements, often published as three suites, composed by George Frideric Handel. It premiered on 17 July 1717, in response to King George I’s request for a concert on the River Thames. The…
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Brahms & Children
Intermezzo, Op.118, No.2 “Andante Teneramente” J. Brahms (1833–1897) [PIANO] “The Church’s One Foundation” Improvisation Brahms knew and was well known to all the children of the neighborhood, and when starting on his long walks would fill his pockets with candies, and amuse himself with the eagerness of the children, who knew his ways and would run…
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A Friend in Need
Rhosymedre R. Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) [Organ] Concerto in G, Adagio W. Mozart (1756-1791) [Anthem] Susan Addington — Flute “Spirit of the Living God” Improvisation Michael Haydn (1737–1806), younger brother of the more famous Joseph Haydn, had been ordered by the Archbishop to compose some duets for violin and tenor, perhaps for his special use. Haydn,…
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Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Ricercar W. Zeitler “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” Improvisation Robert Robinson (1735-1790) had a rough beginning. His father died when he was aged five, but his maternal grandfather, Robert Wilkin, a wealthy gentleman of Mildenhall, who had never reconciled himself to his daughter’s lowly marriage, disinherited his grandson with an inheritance amounting to couch…
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My Country ‘Tis of Thee
Theme & Variations on “My Country ’Tis of Thee” L. Beethoven (1770-1827) In Beethoven’s day a popular musical form was “Theme and Variations”. The template was to take a popular tune of the day — the ‘theme’ — which the composer states rather simply, and follow it with ‘variations’ which displayed the composer’s imaginative…
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The Six Days of Creation
Rhosymedre R. Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) It so happens that the great uncle of the English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) was none other than Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Ralph’s grandmother taught Ralph to read using the same primer with which she had taught her younger brother Charles. Later there was a great kerfuffle among…