Now Thank We All Our God

This is the final upload from the Arnold organ that was installed in a local church on a demo basis. Future uploads will be on my "portable setup" using the free edition on my home pc connected to another church's Viscount. This was also my first time back on the bench after shoulder replacement surgery, and I wasn't sure if I could do this or not, but praise God, I made it!

This is Virgil Fox's transcription which he accomplished with the help of his longtime console assistant at Riverside, Robert Hebble. The repeat was my addition, done to facilitate gradually building the organ from mezzo forte at the beginning to "everything but the kitchen sink" at the end. I also added a few passing notes in the pedal that aren't in the score, but which I have no doubt that Virgil would have approved of, being the flamboyant artist he was. For the cantus firmus, the Tuba Mirabilis and Trompette En Chamade are used together throughout, finally joining the full organ on the Great with all unison and super couplers on the last few notes.

This was one of the first "legitimate" pieces I learned on the organ about 36 years ago. Since then, it has become somewhat of my "signature piece", having been used for Sunday morning postludes, recitals, and whenever I check out a new organ to see how well it performs, as well as to blow the dust out of the pipes or speakers (and hopefully not BLOWING the speakers in the process!). I've enjoyed doing this little series of uploads on Concert Hall and introducing myself musically to all of you my new friends. I cannot begin to tell you how much your support and friendship has meant to me over the past year and a half that I've been commenting here, and I look forward to many more years of uploading and friendship as I slowly begin the process of building my own "legitimate" setup. As always, I hope you enjoy!

Musically Yours In Christ,
Ken Hager