Church Suite No.1 - III. Recessional

Stanley E. Saxton (1904-2002) was professor emeritus of music at Skidmore College. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Syracuse University; he also studied organ with Marcel Dupre and Charles Marie Widor at the American School in Fontainbleau in France, as well as composition with Nadia Boulanger. He held his first church organist job at the age of 12, formed his own orchestra as a college freshman, and toured Europe with Paul Whiteman’s Collegians. A member of the American Guild of Organists, Saxton designed and built many pipe organs in the eastern U.S. He also pursued research in indigenous folk music as source material for compositions, and composed many published works for organ, piano, voice, and chorus.

The third movement of the suite is "Recessional" which I found the most interesting and rewarding movement.

It's sort of combination of a march and film-noir, with it's dark and unpredictable cadences.

There's a feeling of neo-baroque here - almost like Hindemith at times, although the harmonic language is very different.

I wasn't sure whether I should be strict or rhapsodic with this, so, except for the grand cadence at the conclusion with double pedal, I opted for a rather "strict" approach, which felt right when I played it.

This is a cool movement, and quite unique in harmony, texture and content!