Ten Musings on Eclogues and Bucolic Text - (2022)   

for organ

for Carson Cooman

 

An exchange of ideas regarding form and titles of works started me to think of the various inspirations behind creativity, as one thing indeed does so often spark another. After writing one of these 'musings' into being, as I shall call them herein, a historical survey of the language of poems called eclogues and the related bucolic texts sparked more work. And so, this set of short works for organ, that "king of instruments" as .Mozart and so many others have said.

 

As to organists, the masters of such instruments, I cite an amusing bit from an article:  "Asked by Zukerman why all organists are 'crazy' – 'flamboyant"' – Newman said he prefers 'eccentric. No question, you have to be a little crazy' to play a pipe organ, Newman admitted. 'Here I am with this immense amount of power in front of me. Alone. Aloof. With only the birds and God, you know what I mean?' 'Alone and aloof,' Zukerman concluded. 'Holding court -- with the king of instruments'." In "The king of instruments," by Brian Dakss, CBS, 25 March 2005.  Indeed.

 

i.      I shall weep though I be stone
        After the Eclogue, The Nymph Complaining for the Death of her Fawn, Andrew Marvell, 1621-1678

 

2 pages, circa 4' 00" an MP3 demo is here: 

 

ii.     There with the reed thou mayst express
        After the eclogue, To His Muse, Robert Herrick, 1591-1674

 

2 pages, circa 2' 45" an MP3 demo is here: 

 

iii.    The night nigheth fast, yts time to be gone
        After an Eclogue, The Shepheardes Calender: August, Edmund Spenser, 1552–1599

 

2 pages, circa 3' 15" an MP3 demo is here: 

 

iv.    The day that centers in eternal spring
        In an eclogue, Elegy, John Scott 1731-1783

 

1 page, circa 2' 00" an MP3 demo is here: 

 

v.     See lilies spring, and sudden verdure rise
        After an eclogue: Messiah: A Sacred Eclogue, Alexander Pope, 1688–1744

 

2 pages, circa 2' 45" an MP3 demo is here: 

 

vi.    Let in thy voice a whisper often come
        After the Eclogue - Thyrsis: A Monody, Matthew Arnold, 1822-1883

 

1 page, circa 2' 45" an MP3 demo is here: 

 

vii.    Love a good glass, a merry song, or story
        After an eclogue, The Squire and the Parson, Soame Jenyns, 1704-1787

 

2 pages, circa 1' 45" an MP3 demo is here: 

 

viii.  There dye with me to live: to live in thee I dyed
        In The Divine Lover, Phineas Fletcher, 1582-1650

 

1 page, circa 2' 15" an MP3 demo is here: 

 

ix.    Since mortal Beautyes drop so soon
        After a bucolic, The Progress Of Beauty, Jonathan Swift, 1667-1745

 

2 pages, circa 3' 15" an MP3 demo is here: 

 

x.     To sing of Truths unknown, unheard before
        After an eclogue: Messiah: A Sacred Eclogue, Alexander Pope, 1688–1744

 

2 pages, circa 1' 30" 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.

 

Ten Musings on Eclogues and Bucolic Texts

17 pages including title / contents