Good King Wenceslaus

Robert Edward Smith (b. 1946) has written music for vocal and instrumental ensembles of all sizes ranging from unaccompanied viola to symphony orchestra. He has been Composer in Residence at Trinity College Chapel in Hartford, Connecticut since 1979, and taught harpsichord and continuo realization at the Hartt School, University of Hartford from 1992 to the present. In 2002-2003 he served as Composer in Residence, St. John’s Memorial Chapel at Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
His music has an appeal to it. While some might call his work "simple," "The American Organist" magazine said: "“Robert Edward Smith has a sense of melody in about any style you can name. This irresistible music can begin to fill the need in liturgical churches everywhere. It is always musical, even at its most utilitarian moments.”

These pieces, taken from his collection, "Hymn Preludes for the Christmas Season", which was published by World Libaray Publications in 1998, are certainly no exception. While I have not played through all of the 20 pieces included, each of the ones that I have selected is colorful and memorable. My performances follow the composer's registrations "in spirit," but I have used a more "sophisticated" approach in sections. "Good King Wenceslaus" uses the Swell Trumpet in the first variation, with a januty second variation played on Great flutes 8' and 4' The third variation is "harp-like" with continuous 16th note figurations in the right hand (played on the Choir Harmonique Flute 4') with the melody played on the Solo 4' flute with tremulant. The fourth and final variation uses a "small full organ" sound, with a lot of sparkle.