Six Bible Poems: 4. - Hosanna

4. - Hosanna (St. John xii, 13)

Of the Fourth Poem, Weinberger writes: "on the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried: 'Hosanna, Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.' " (St. John xii, 12, 13) In St. Matthew v, Jesus is praised by the people as the one who came not to destroy the law but to fulill.


When I recorded the set, this was the first one that I did. I thought it looked like it sort of "made sense" in terms of its "organ-like appearance". I found out IMMEDIATELY that looks CAN be deceiving! ;-)

It, like all of these requires MANY piston changes - both general and divisional. I also used the Crescendo Pedal in this one, not so much for a "crescendo/dimunendo" but rather to bring on the pedal couplers at spots. Because I have only 2 "swell pedals" I had to leave the Solo "open" for this movement. Actually it worked well, as you'll hear the Solo Tromba, and it's solemn brass fanfares several times, with the Great coupled UP TO THE SOLO, several times. It's a quick piece, exciting and even rusing. I confess that I liked slamming open the crescendo on the final pedal point, just before the final fff chord! Notice HOW cool it sounds with the 32' Bombarde appears... ;-)