A Christmas Vigil

Description

Organ — A CHRISTMAS VIGIL is based on a larger single-movement piece written for the First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach, Virginia. That earlier work, A Dundee Fantasy, was commissioned to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the church. That major concert piece, based on the hymn tune Dundee, was premiered by Alan Morrison.Several small units left over from drafts of A Dundee Fantasee suggested Christmas to me because of the carillon-style ostinato at the beginning that returns grandly at the end. The joyous momentum throughout the whole composition makes this vigil suitable for a Christmas Season concert. A CHRISTMAS VIGIL is the second of two Hailstork organ works composed as variations on the British hymn tune Dundee. The present work begins with a carillon-like ostinato on the hymn’s opening phrase, which returns joyously toward the end of the composition. While the hymn itself is not specific to Nativity, the composer gave this work a Christmas title due to its bell-like cheer.