Suite No. 2

Calvin Hampton (1938-1984) was born in Kittaning, Pennsylvania and raised in Ravenna, Ohio, Hampton was a resident of New York City from 1963 until his death from AIDS in 1984. He received his musical training at Oberlin Conservatory and Syracuse University, where his teachers were Fenner Douglass and Arthur Poister. He was a distinguished recitalist, specializing in 19th and 20th century repertoire, and was famous for his weekly Friday Midnight concerts at Calvary Church in New York City, where he was Organist and Director of Music. He was twice a recitalist at the national conventions of the American Guild of Organists. His organ transcription of "Pictures at an Exhibition" was the first modern day organ transcription and, which was followed-up by a transcription of Franck's "Symphony in D Minor." Virtually every hymnal in America today contains hymn tunes and harmonizations by Calvin Hampton. In addition to hymns and other service music, he also wrote important works for orchestral and chamber forces. Many of his organ works were commissioned for new organs, such as "Music for an Important Occasion," the first commissioned work for the concert organ in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.

"Suite No. 2" was published by McAfee Music in 1982. The three movements are: I - Solemn Procession, II - Lullaby, and III - Trumpet Tunes.

The Marcussen organ is quite different from the one that Hampton had in mind. There are many things about the sounds that are effective, but, with everything, there are trade offs. The chamades, while quite exciting, tend to really thin out in the higher registers, and so, the dignity and power of a Solo tuba is missing.

As with all of Hampton's music, there is an appeal about these three movements.

The timings of the individual pieces are as follows:

I Solemn Procession 0:00
II Lullaby 5:07
III Trumpet Tunes 11:23

A photo of Calvin Hampton and one of Calvary Church, New York City are attached below.