Albumblad in F

Gerard Bartus van Krieken (1836 - 1913) was a well-known Rotterdam organist in his day, and composer of instrumental and vocal works. Of his organ works, the Praeludium “Eroica” still enjoys some fame. The young Jan Zwart was one of his pupils for several years.
This Albumblad (album sheet) for organ or harmonium was published in a subscription series of easily playable harmonium music. Not a spectacular piece, but nevertheless melodious and well structured. It was dedicated to Van Krieken´s famous Parisian colleague and friend Félix Alexandre Guilmant, whose initials he incorporated into a short motif: F-A-G. This motif is heard twice in each of the antecedent phrases, each time in a different part (SBAT), and finally in the closing bars.