Postlude in Canon on "Sine Nomine" (R. Vaughan Williams)

Today, November 1st is the Feast of All Saints, the day when the Church honors and commemorates all of the many "known and recognized" holy men and women of God.

Thomas James Crawford was born in Barrhead, Scotland in 1877, and died in Ontario, Canada in 1955). He was an organist, choirmaster, teacher, and composer, holding his ARCO 1892, FRCO 1902, B MUS (Durham) 1902. He studied organ and theory in Glasgow with H. Sandiford Turner and Otto Schweitzer, and in 1894 in Leipzig with Carl Reinecke and Paul Homeyer. While Crawford was in Leipzig he was organist at All Saints (Anglo-American) Church.

Returning to London in 1898, Crawford assisted Sir Frederick Bridge for seven years at Westminster Abbey. In 1911 he became the organist-choirmaster of St Michael's Church, Chester Square, London. In December 1922 he moved to Toronto to take up posts as organist at St Paul's Bloor St Anglican Church and teacher at the TCM. He conducted the Eaton Choral Society 1925-31, and the Victoria College Music Club from 1927-42. He was organist-choirmaster in 1932 at Holy Trinity Church and 1933-46 at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. Retiring in 1946, he continued to travel as an examiner for the RCMT and produced a book, "Keyboard Harmony and Transposition". (Toronto 1952, 1966). His last position was at St Andrew's Church, Barrie, in 1954.

"Postlude in Canon on 'Sine Nomine'" is the third piece in a collection of "Three Short Pieces," published by Western-Music Company, Toronto in 1950. The piece is dedicated "To Frederick Silvester."

I received these pieces from Carson Cooman, so, THANK YOU, Carson!

This is a highly unusual setting of Vaughan Williams famous tune for the Feast Day of All Saints. It sets the tune in canon, moving through changing harmonic territories, before it's triumphant conclusion.

Despite the relative brevity of the piece, I found this to be a tricky one to get right, particularly in terms of the management of the registration.