Cruceta (Scenes from a Mexican Desert, No. 4)

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.

"Cruceta" is quite an extended movement. I suppose it would not be wrong to call it the "prettiest" one of the suite.

Several solo voices get the turn in this movement. First is heard the Solo clarinet above sustained chords on the Swell strings. After this, the Solo strings get a sweet extended solo in the tenor register, which is played against an arpeggiated figuration played upon the Choir flutes. There is a central chorale-section before the opening material returns.

The word "cruceta" is Spanish for "crosspiece," but in terms of plants, I think it refers to the triangular cactus. I found it hard to search for the right pictures, so, I chose a few that I liked, including some "flowered" examples, as I think this is depicted in the music.

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 images of the Cruceta.

Tomorrow: "The Adobe Mission"