Prelude on "Leoni" (Ten Chorale Preludes, Set II, No. 2)

Gerald Near (b. 1942) was born in Chicago studied composition at the American Conservatory of Music Leo Sowerby . He studied at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor at Leslie Bassett (composition), Robert Glasgow (organ) and Elizabeth AH Green (conducting) and continued his composition studies at the University of Minnesota at Dominick Argento continued.

After working as a choirmaster at the Calvary Church in Rochester / Minnesota Near from 1983 was musical director and organist at the St. Matthew's Cathedral in Dallas / Texas and composer in residence at the Cathedral of St. John in Denver / Colorado. Eventually he became choir director and cantor at Holy Faith Episcopal Church in Santa Fe / New Mexico. He composes mostly sacred music, including masses, motets and hymns and organ works.

The "Ten Chorale Preludes, Set II" were published by Aureole Editions in 1995. They comprise a collection of mostly small (but not all easy!), well-crafted and appealing preludes based upon well-known hymn melodies.

The second one, "Leoni" is based upon the famous "Yigdal" melody, and dedicated to Joel Martinson.

It is a sprightly trio in F minor, and features the Cor Anglais of the Solo in the left hand.

A photo of Gerald Near is attached below.

Although most of these works appear to be quite short (I can't really say, as I record them as soon as I learn them), I chose not to combine these in groups. Instead, I'll upload 2 or 3 at a time, until I get the ten done.

I'm sorry if it annoys or offends anyone, but I think we do our fellow members and uploaders a disservice when we upload 10, 15, or even 20 items in a row. As the person with the highest number of uploads, I suppose I don't have to "politic to be heard, but I think it is not fair to others to SWAMP THE BOARD, causing the upload of a person who may upload only occasionally to COMPLETE DISAPPEAR in 5 minutes time.