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
English