The Adobe Mission (Scenes from a Mexican Desert, No. 5)

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.

"The Adobe Mission" concludes the.suite with the only "loud" piece of the six.

It is a noble hymn or chorale-like piece that begins with a moderately full sound before building steadily to a sonorous dominant cadence.

The sound drops back as the movement begins again. This time, the crescendo begins almost immediately, and the mildly chromatic harmonies lead to the full organ in the last few measures. Note the arrival of the 32' reed at the very last cadence.

THANKS to those who listened to the entire suite, making the journey, which I hope was a pleasant one, along with me.

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 faithfully characteristic adobe missions.

On Saturday, I'll conclude my "Summertime Dream Series" with Arthur Meale's "A Summer Idylle," the perfect conclusion to the entire group of dreamy, atmospheric pieces. :-)