Two Communion Pieces for Manuals Organ - Sheet Music

SKU: C5.6123

These two Communion hymns come from different traditions. Adoro te devote is a Mode V chant melody from the 13th century Processionale, published in Paris in 1697. It is quite likely a late addition to the chant repertoire, owing to its opening triad and its rather diatonic, major-mode tonality. Schmucke dich, o liebe Seele is a 17th century Lutheran hymn tune by Johann Cruger, cantor and organist of Saint Nikolai Church in Berlin, written in 1644. Donna Robertson has set these tunes in wonderfully appropriate style. The chant tune appears as a flowing, flexible prelude, in comfortably alternating meters: 7/8 6/8 9/8. The melody appears in "paraphrase" in the soprano line. The German chorale is set as a Baroque, three-voice fughetta, with the melody often in the soprano line in both a straight quarter-note rhythm and an ornamented version. Do not be misled by the "manuals only" designation here. These preludes are not overly difficult, but they are far from simplistic. Even highly competent organist will find abundant interest here, all the result of a fine organist-composer's skill.