Variations on “Aus der Tiefe” (2006)

Humphrey Clucas (b. 1941) — Variations on “Aus der Tiefe” (2006) for organ

British composer Humphrey Clucas (b. 1941) was educated at King’s College, Cambridge and pursued a career as a teacher of English while also remaining active as a professional choral singer. After 27 years, he retired from teaching and became a Lay Vicar in the choir of Westminster Abbey, from which he retired in 1999. He has composed many works, primarily music for chorus and organ. Clucas is best known for his set of Responses, composed when he himself was a student. His large number of organ works range from small preludes (and especially many works based on plainchant) to a large-scale organ symphony. He has also published several volumes of original poetry, a collection of Catullus translations, a book of essays on A. E. Housman, and a memoir.

The chorale “Aus der Tiefe” is a setting of Martin Luther’s German paraphrase on Psalm 30 (“Out of the depths I cry to thee, O Lord.”) The tune is also known by the name HEINLEIN and in English is usually set to George H. Smyt­tan's Lenten text "Forty Days and Forty Nights."

Published by animus Music Publishing (http://www.animusi.co.uk/) in “Coldridge Variations”