The Victor Searle Lent & Easter Organ Folio

When I was first asked to assemble a book of music suitable for Lent and Easter, I was very hesitant. Unlike with Christmas, I couldn’t think of many pieces which would serve Lent and Easter. But in leafing through boxes of music, I discovered a number of works which I had performed many times during my sixty years on the bench. A number of them are practically unknown today, so I thought to re-introduce them to modern-day organist.

• The ”Triumphal Entry” is quite long, but you can begin at Part Three.
• “Paques Fleuries” used to be a popular Palm Sunday prelude, and I am sure that some of your elderly parishoners will be happy to hear it again.

The next four works are standard Lenten fare. They are still more or less popular.

• “A Lenten Meditation” was written in 1909 by my first organ teacher, Harvey B. Gaul, a name unknown to most organists today.
• “Easter Morning” is a description of the newly risen Christ and the joy of the women who discovered the empty tomb.

The next two pieces are practically unknown but express the joy of Easter.

• “Sing unto God” is from Handel’s “Judas Maccabeus“.
• “Mighty Lord” is absolutely unknown today, as it is from the Oratorio “Saint Ludmila” by Dvorak. But it is a great chorus, and a fitting close to any Easter service.

I hope you will enjoy playing these works and that your congregations will be inspired by them.

Victor C. Searle Feb. 8, 2011

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The Victor Searle Christmas Folio

“Most of these works are not too well-known; and at this writing (fall, 2009), almost all are unavailable anywhere else. Holst’s CHRISTMAS DAY and Berlioz’s SHEPHERD’S FAREWELL are beloved by choirs, but not available as organ solos. Although the only thing Christmasy about GRANDE OFFERTOIRE-NOEL is the title, this unabashedly Romantic work has always been well received by congregations. In addition, I have shamelessly included two of my carol fantasias which, I warn you, will require quite a bit of pedal practice! I hope you will enjoy playing these works, as I have for the past 65 years, and will add them to your repertoire. And a very Merry Christmas to you all. ” Victor C. Searle (a.k.a. Yoshihisa Fujise, my naturalized Japanese name)

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Victor Searle: Three Japanese Melodies

Victor Searle has provided three arrangements of Japanese melodies, all colorfully registered and skillfully produced.

This is the first publication of a music by Victor Searle within the Consortium Internationale Compositorum, provided in an elegant edition, enriched by a reprint of a watercolor by Kenji Murata.

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Watch the video of Lullabye of Itsuku from the Three Japanese Melodies by Victor Searle, played by Russ Greene (organ) in an AGO Organ Spectacular Concert, “The Organ Heard ‘Round the World” on the Phoenix organ of St. Andrew’s Anglican in Winnipeg