Improvisation on "Heiliger Geist" (Four Seasonal Improvisations, Lent, No. 3)

Alec Rowley was born in London on 13 March 1892, teacher, composer, organist, pianist, lecturer and writer, who studied at the RAM with Frederick Corder and where he won sundry scholarships and prizes. He was an organist at several London churches including, during the Second World War, St Margaret's, Westminster. He died on 11 January 1958 while playing tennis. Many of his organ solos are brief and simple: chorale preludes, genre pieces, toccatas, marches and voluntaries suitable for the small organ and less experienced player.

In 1948, Hinrichsen published Rowley's "Chorale Preludes - Four Seasonal Improvisations." The third of these is for the season of Lent, and based on the tune "Heiliger Geist," a tune adapted by Johann Crüger (1598-1662).

The mood of the piece is gentle, meditative, and moves freely through tonalities and textures. It seems to me that the piece has a "French-impressionistic" feel to it, but that's probably not a good way to describe it. A type of dialogue between flutes and strings make for a successful, serious, and penitential atmosphere.

Rowley is creative in the way he uses Crüger's melody, and I've preceded the prelude with one verse of the hymn.

The score of the piece is attached as well as that of the hymn. A photo of Alec Rowley is attached (I need a NEW one!), as well as a painting of Johann Crüger.