And they were filled with the holy spirit
Beginnings
Fantasia for the Lamb
In Memoriam
Into the Dawn
Meditation on a Kyrie
Quodlibet: Amazing Grace and Be Thou my Vision
Soli Deo Gloria
Duration: 3 minutes
Description:
Suite on Norwegian Folk Tunes
Duration: 9’30”
Description: This five-movement set of works on Norwegian folk tunes used as hymn tunes was requested by my cousin Michael Moreskine, himself an organist and composer. In addition to having served a Norwegian churchin San Francisco, he spent the 2005-2006 year working as a church musician in Sandnesjoen,Norway. He wanted a set of pieces that he could use as both a concert work (having in mind an organ dedication in San Francisco) and individual preludes to the hymns using the tunes I wrote on–especially if my settings used minimal pedal.
That latter requirement caused me the greatest difficulty, followed by my lack of familiarity with the tunes (which are quite wonderful to work with). Still, the piece worked out pretty well, being particularly effective on instruments that have some reasonable contrast in registrations possible.
I. Introduction and Promenade
Tune: 850 [Heddal: Hvor er det godt å lande]
Tune: 808 [Vang I Valdres: Se, solens skjønne lys og prakt]
Key: F to C
Pedal: Some pedal
Duration: 3 minutes
II. Toccata
Tune: 808 [Vang I Valdres: Se, solens skjønne lys og prakt]
Key: C
Pedal: None
Duration: 1’30”
III. Interlude
Tune: 844 [Heddal: I himmelen, I himmelen]
Key: G
Pedal: None
Duration: 50 seconds
IV. Meditation
Tune: 268 [Romedal: Herre Gud, ditt dyre navn og aere]
Key: F
Pedal: None
Duration: 1’10”
V. Finale (Hi Fra Norge)
Tune: 850 [Heddal: Hvor er det godt å lande]
Tune: 844 [Heddal: I himmelen, I himmelen]
Tune: 244 [Heddal: Den store, hvite flokk]
Key: A to C
Pedal: Substantial pedal
Duration: 3 minutes
Three Meditations
Toccata on a French Carol
Duration: 3 minutes
Description:
Toccata on He Never Failed Me Yet
Duration: 1’30”
Description:
In Memoriam
Duration: 3’30”
Description:
Toccata on Shout to the Lord
Duration: 4 minutes
Description: This work was written to serve as the postlude for a service featuring the Praise Team. I wanted some organ presence, but in a way that complemented and supported the guitar-based instrumentation of the team. Shout to the Lord (words and music by Darlene Zschech) was our closing song.
With the exception of one section where the right hand has the melody, the right hand arpeggiates chords, always between E4 and E5, while the left hand acts as continuo, with a simple repetition of the chord (somewhat reminiscent of the Widor 5th–but only slightly). This adds an interesting, if somewhat subtle, pedal tone, as an E always happens on beats 1 and 3 (the piece is in 4/4 and in the key of A Major; the E fits the I and V chords perfectly, and adds a 7th, 6th or 2nd to most of the rest of the chords).
The melody, in augmentation, occurs almost completely in the pedal. It’s a fun romp, with enough tricky coordination issues (mainly rhythmic) to provide some spice. It was well received by the congregation.
Toccata on We Are The Church
Duration: 3’30”
Description: A fun, upbeat postlude based on themes from a musical setting of Avery and Marsh’s We Are The Church by California composer Greg Murai.