A Dundee Fantasee

Description

Organ — The hymn tune “Dundee” first appeared in the 1615 edition of the Scottish Psalter, and is named after the city of Dundee, also known as “the Geneva of Scotland” during the Scottish Reformation.The tune is most commonly associated with the hymn “God Moves in a Mysterious Way,” written around 1774 by the English poet and hymnodist William Cowper. This hymn is likely the origin of the phrase “God works in mysterious ways,” with the first two stanzas readingGod moves in a mysterious wayHis wonders to perform;He plants his footsteps in the sea,And rides upon the storm.Deep in unfathomable minesOf never-failing skillHe treasures up his bright designs,And works His sovereign will.As I searched for a way to set the tune that felt substantial enough for concert presentation, I moved suddenly from a ponderous, solemn approach (which did lead to some other small “Dundee” pieces), to a brighter, more humorous one, resulting in this toccata. As the hymn says, “God moves in a mysterious way.”— Adolphus Hailstork Hailstork’s 8-minute organ fantasy, with the telling subtitle “Toccata-Humoresque,” is based on the hymn tune Dundee from the 1615 Scottish Psalter. This tune has become most commonly associated with Cowper’s 1774 text “God Moves in a Mysterious Way,” believed to be the origin of the phrase “God works in mysterious ways.”  Hailstork has written, “As I searched for a way to set the tune that felt substantial enough for concert presentation, I moved suddenly from a ponderous, solemn approach to a brighter, more humorous one, resulting in this toccata. As the hymn says, ‘God moves in a mysterious way.’”