Here we are. A beautiful July fourth, and where am I? Sitting at my piano in my music room playing Es Ist Ein Ros Unt Sprungen (AKA Lo, How Rose eer Blooming). Why not!? This is my favorite Christmas hymn. I deserve it. I think folks take this piece entirely too quickly, not allowing the chords to bloom, if you will, so Im enjoying it at my preferred tempo; slightly slower, but not to the point of dragging, with more of a meditative, contemplative, reverent feel with dynamics greatly observed. Dramatic. If done with organ, orchestra, and choir this piece can without a doubt be transcendental. Even aside from the religious text, for those musicians who dont care for the thematic material, the music is supremely written. I once heard an arrangement that had this constant overtone/drone while the first verse vocal line was completed beneath. Towards the end of the first phrase the overtone/drone faded gradually to join boldly in complete SATB writting... straight tone English Cathedral sound... it was one of the most ethereal things I had ever heard (Along with Faures In Paradisum from his Requiem)... Ive GOT to find that arrangement... Im gushing. My apologies. Long story short, If I find the arrangement that I so passionately love, Ill post! Besides, I played My Country Tis of Thee (AKA God save the Queen shout out to Nancy Brandon Chinlund). It all balances out. Had I a pipe organ in house, my neighbors would never rest...
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 21:16:30 +0000
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