About two months ago, Carson Cooman asked if I would be interested in recording a set of new works by Raymond H. Haan. I am always pleased to be invited, so I said that I would be glad to do them.
My first instincts was to be put off by the registrations, as they seem to be for a large Allen or Rodgers. However, when I stop prejudging and working on them, I found some REALLY BEAUTIFUL MUSIC in them!
I used Salisbury, trying to use it more like an "American organ," and I am very pleased with the results.
What I found to be especially satisfying is that Carson sent the recordings to the composer, and he was overjoyed. As a performer, that is something very gratifying.
The tenth work is "Four Variants on 'St. Hugh,'" and is nice set of short variations that all sort of "join together" in a continuous flow. The registration is light, and "flutey," with an almost "whistle-while-you-work" feelt to it. The tune, St. Hugh, is an English melody, joined with text, "Sing to the Lord glad hymns of praise." The piece shows that needn't be loud to be joyful!
A photo of Raymond Haan is attached below.
Carson has also asked that I include the following:
Published in "Raymond H. Haan: Preludes and Meditations" by Lorenz Publishing.
https://www.lorenz.com/search-results/preludes-and-meditations
A native of Michigan, Raymond H. Haan (b. 1938) is a graduate of Calvin College and the University of Michigan. In addition to an extended career in education teaching middle and high school English, Haan was
Director of Music at Cutlerville East Christian Reformed Church for more than fifty years. As a composer he has published extensively, and his body of more than 500 works includes music for organ, choir, handbells, and other solo instruments.
I found these pieces really "refreshing," and I hope that you will as
Sign up today to download piece.
See what Agnus_Dei used to make this recording