Triumphal March

John Hyatt Brewer was born on January 18, 1856, Brooklyn, New York, and died there on November 30, 1931. He is remembered as a composer, teacher and organist, who lived in Brooklyn all his life.

Beginning at age 15, he played the organ at a num­ber of Brooklyn churches, including the Lafayette Avenue Church (1881-1931). He conducted many orchestras and glee clubs, and helped found the Brooklyn Apollo Club in 1878, becoming its conductor in 1903. He also helped found the American Guild of Organists, and belonged to the New York State Music Teachers’ Association. In 1899, he became a professor of music at Adelphi College.

Here is a link to show you the organ that Brewer played: http://www.nycago.org/Organs/Bkln/html/LafayetteAvPres.html

Here is another one that talks about the hoped for renovation: http://www.lafayetteorgan.com/organ/Welcome.html

It will cost over one million $$$...

I've recently become interested in late 19th-early 20th century American organ music, probably because the big Wirsching at OLG (almost done!) was built in 1909.

Brewer was quite prolific as a composer, and he wrote a lot of church music. His organ music features mostly "colorful sketch" type pieces for spring, autumn, etc.

The "Triumphal March" is a big piece, and it's not easy. It's probably just short of a "virtuoso" march, but it's close. It has lots of octaves in manuals and pedal, and requires a very secure handling of the organ, or it can easily get away from you... ;-)

Here is a link to the score: http://imslp.org/wiki/Triumphal_March_(Brewer,_John_Hyatt)