Fountain Melody

"A scenic tone-picture of an illuminated fountain, the placid play of which is reflected in the flowing opening music. Presently the display becomes more intense, the kaleidoscopic colours being admirably suggested by the ever-changing tonality of the music. This subsides, the reflected lights grow dim, and the fountain ceases in the darkness of night."
So wrote John Arthur Meale in the score of his Fountain Melody, published by Paxton in 1910 and dedicated "To my friend, E. Stanley Roper."

This weekend marks the Third Sunday of Lent, and the lectionary readings are saturated with water. In Exodus 17, Moses strikes the rock at Horeb and water pours forth for a thirsty, desperate people. In John 4, Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well and offers her living water, "a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Even Psalm 95's great cry, "Harden not your hearts as at Meribah," reaches back to that same desert moment at the waters of testing. Water runs through this entire Sunday like an underground stream, and Meale's shimmering, luminous tone-picture seemed the perfect companion for it.

With gratitude to David for introducing me to this wonderful piece - be sure to check out his recording for his usual fantastic treatment, and additional details about the composer, history, and score

https://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/41214