Easter Organ Music

Easter Organ Music

by Harvey B. Gaul

       There is one difficulty that Easter brings, and that is the exceeding worry of finding appropriate Easter organ music. Organ music for Christmas is comparatively easy to find --composers have left us a vast heritage relative to the Nativity -- but for the Resurrection there seems to be little available literature.

       The following compendium of Easter organ music is not all-inclusive. Nor is it intended to include every organ piece with the title or suggestion that Christus resurrectus est. It is compiled with the desire -- Baedeker fashion -- to lighten the search and point out the advantageous works. Also to encourage organists in the belief that there are other works more appropriate for Easter than Mendelssohn's Spring Song and Grieg's To Spring, even if Easter is the sapping, budding printemps.
       In preparing this list it was deemed advisable to catalogue the pieces in four sections, starting with preludes. 

      The Prelude to The Resurrection, Bullard, offers a splendid opportunity for opening the service. In the same capacity the Prologue to Christ, the Victor, by Dudley Buck, may be placed. Mozart's Resurrexit, also has excellent preludial effects, and with it may be included Springer's Easter Alleluia. For melody Parkhurst's In the Gloom of Easter Morn is to be recommended.

       In the matter of Interludes or Offertories the following pieces are good: Anthem for the Sunday after Easter, Guilmant; Offertoire pour la fete de paques, Orison; Easter Hymn, Oliver; Air de la Pentecote, from Easter cantata. Bach; Gloria in excelsis, Burger. These works will supply the needs for Interludes; some of them may be used for Preludes. For the purpose of concluding the service Easter Recessional, Flagler; March on Easter Themes, Mark Andrews; Easter March, Merkl, are all strong virile works, with the march rhythm firmly announced. Also in the class of Postludes may be included, Hosannah Chorus Magnus, Dubois; Hosanna, Wachs; Hosanna, Granier; Hosannah, Lemmens. For organ recital pieces -- and Easter Is a very good time for organ recitals on account of the vast congregations to be seated -- the following works will be found suitable; they are not only more ambitious, and of larger caliber, but offer passages for telling solo effects: Easter Morning, Mailing; Old Easter Melody, John West; Easter Morn (a meditation), West; and Resurrection Morn, Johnston; commended not only for melodic work, but for varied and interesting structure and passage opportunity.

       Also for concert work: Alleluia! O Mii et iiliae, Loret; and O filii et iiliae, Lizst, and Paques Henries, Mailly. For display purposes requiring full organ effects these works should be considered: Fantasia on Jesus Christ is Risen To-day, Peter Lutkin; Fantasia on an Easter Plain Song, Wilan; and Fantasia on a Carol, West.

       For the person who was educated in the English School of church music and who firmly believes no better or more fitting works were ever written than the oratorio choruses, the following transcriptions are advisable. They may be used for Preludes, Interludes, Postludes ad libitum, or even da capo: Achieved is the glorious work, Haydn ; the Hallelujah Chorus, Handel; the Hallelujah Chorus from Mount of Olives, Beethoven; Gloria in excelsis, Mozart; and All glory to the Lamb that died, from Last Judgment, Spohr. Really good transcriptions may be found or made, from the following oratorio solos: The trumpet shall sound; I know that my Redeemer liveth, and Thou didst not leave His soul in hell, from Handel's Messiah. The last two have the charm of being unhackneyed and if good solo stops are employed they are most acceptable pieces. 

 Introducing the organ to a new generation.

Easter Index / Previous Page / Next Page