Mirage (Scenes from a Mexican Desert, No. 3)

Homer C Nearing (1895-1986), was born in Springfield, Missouri, and graduated from the Kansas City Conservatory of music. During his career, he was a music professor and church musician from 1914 until 1920 in Texas. While there, he was inspired to compose his impressionistic organ suites by the history and terrain of the Southwestern United States.

"Scenes from a Mexican Desert" was published by H. W. Gray in 1921. It contains five movements and is without dedication.

I had intended to do these works as one upload, but the work is too large. So, rather than split it into 3 + 2, I'll do the movements individually.

Like all of Nearing's "depictive suites," this one does a nice job of "painting pictures" and conveying the place or situation to be shown.

"Mirage" is a deceptive movement, which I suppose it should be!

In the is work, I tried to get "shimmer" in the sound, although it's hard to get it right. Since it is very soft, I was able to use the Swell Vox Humana for sections of it. In other cases the Swell flutes with the tremulant are heard.

Here again there are some errors in the score, including one very "questionable" note, in this case an "E." It worked as either a natural or a flat, so, after agonizing over it, I chose the flat is I thought it made for a more "deceptive" cadence. :-)

The score is attached below, however I warn you that there are MANY mistakes, inconsistencies, and questionable accidentals throughout the entire suite!

Also attached is a photo of Homer Nearing and several photos of appear to be mirages, but are they?!?

Tomorrow: "Cruceta"