Alan Smith
read
his biography Three Psalm Preludes (2007)
No1 – How
excellent is your name
This is based on the third verse of Psalm 8. The mood of praise and
rejoicing is created by the toccata-like continuous semi-quaver patterns,
which are present throughout the piece. At the start, we hear the
right hand alone, then against a sustained pedal note before the left
hand introduces a thematic idea using chords. A quieter middle section
then builds gradually to a restatement of the opening. This time the
right and left hands play the semi-quaver pattern in unison, whilst
the doubled pedal part contains both the sustained notes and the earlier
thematic idea.
No2 – Beside
still waters
This mood of this movement is a complete contrast
to the first, attempting to portray the stillness and languid feeling
of the second verse of Psalm 23. The harmonic idiom is rooted in French
20th century organ music, somewhere between Messiaen and Langlais.
The sustained string chords offer an almost impressionistic background
to the improvisatory melodic line, which is played on the pedals using
a solo flute voice.
No3 – Praise
his name in the dance
The dance-like mood suggested by the third verse
of Psalm 149 is present throughout the variety of textures found in
this movement. The music is structured in a arch form. The opening
introduction leads to a toccata-like section where repeated chords
played by the hands contrast against a declamatory melody in the pedal
part. A repeat of the opening then leads to a middle section containing
two ideas. The first – an ostinato pattern played by left hand
and pedals against syncopated right hand chords – is played
twice, separated by a new melodic and sequential idea. The opening
toccata music then returns, initially in E major before returning
to the tonic key of G. Finally there is an exuberant coda, allowing
the movement to conclude with a flourish.
Duration: 10mins
Available from: the composer
Price: £10.00
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