Fantasia on "Old Hundredth"- (2024)   

for organ

 

The hymn tune is well known to many, named by varying texts to which it has been set. The score is marked "Long Metre from Pseaumes Octante Trois de David (1551)," harking back to the late Renaissance and some publication of many tunes. The fantasia is noted as "after" the tune of Loys Bourgeois (c. 1510 – 1559), best known for his part in composing the Huguenot (Genevan, or Calvinist) Psalter and author of "Le droit chemin de musique" (The right way in music), and Claude le Juene (1530-1600), known like Bourgeois for simiar work setting Huguenot texts.

The tune appears with alternative texts, the most popular "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow" (Thomas Ken, 1674), a second most found "All People That on Earth Do Dwell" (William Kethe, 1561), some other texts associated as well by Wilhelm II, Duke of Sachs-Weimar (1598-1662), Issac Watts (1674-1748), and beyond.

 

Stepped registrations are imagined, and especially a 16' reed as at measure 19 and beyond, such that the return of the quiet restatement at measure 27 and after is distinctly different. The melodic phrases appear in a variety of forms, and as with the Claude le Jeune harmonization which informs from of the harmonies, is found in the tenor voice embedded as a fauxbourdon.

 

 

5 pages, circa 6' 00" an MP3 demo is here: 

 

The score is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this organ score.

 

Fantasia on "Old Hundredth"

                    

 

 

    

Detail from the title pages of the two publications