Abendlied

Edward Emanuel Harper (1863-1939) was an organist in Halifax and Southport before passing his organ examination at the RAM in 1898. He was appointed to the Parish Church in Aberdeen in 1895 and again in 1898 after served briefly in the USA. He was briefly principal of the Athanaeum Music School in Glasgow from 1902-04 and was briefly organist of St. Andrew’s in Ottawa 1910/11 before settling in Vancouver.

He published several compositions in "The Organ Loft" Series, which is were this piece is taken. It was published by the Vincent Music Co. Ltd. in 1903.

In planning ahead for works I hope to do, I always look for "filler works," which I can do in a short time. This does not imply that these "fillers" are of poor quality, but merely that I can successfully do them in a day or so.

When I came across this piece, I also came across the "Abendlied" by Henry Hackett, so, it was my intention to present a comparison of these two "Evening Song" pieces.

In the Programme Annotation for this work it says: "The following quotation from Lyte's well known hymn appears to express the thoughts suggested by this 'Abendlied.'"

"Abide with me: fast falls the Eventide;
The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide."
"Come not in terrors, as the King of Kings:
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings."

The language is that of the late romantic, and the work, while restrained and compact, is still powerful and colorful.

It is the more "adventurous" of these two "Abendlieds," although the musical language is "tame" when compared with more modern works.

I have no photos of Edward Harper, but the score is attached below.