Cat No. JM49064
Price £99.95
Category: SALVATIONIST MUSIC

American Festival Series Nos 40 - 43.
This is AFS N0.43 The Blessing - A Meditation, which is part of a set of four pieces published as one journal.
The other pieces in this journal are :
No.40 - Festival Prelude "IN GOOD COMPANY" by Dudley Bright
No.41 - March - THE STARS & STRIPES FOREVER arr. Wm.Himes
N0.42 - Transcription - RIGAUDON - option Organ arr. Wm.Himes

Program Note:
First written as a processional for the wedding of the composer’s son, the music is based on his favorite hymn, “Come, thou Fount of every blessing” by Robert Robinson (1735-90). The music expresses solemnity, tenderness and majesty and builds to the sweeping grandeur of the bridal entry, coinciding with the text of the final verse:
“Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it. Seal it for thy courts above.”

Note to the Conductor:
Because this music was first used as wedding processional one can anticipate the majestic character of this meditation. Two major influences in this work are the hymn’s inspiring words and melody and an attempt to emulate the noble lyricism of the century English composer, Gustav Holst (1874-1934.) Regardless of indicated dynamics or articulations, the overall objective should be to produce a beautiful and glorious sound of praise and celebration.