Bible Poems (V. The Last Supper)

Luca Massaglia (http://www.lucamassaglia.com/) plays "The Last Supper" (no. 5 from "Bible Poems") by Jaromír Weinberger (1896-1967).

Jaromír Weinberger was born in Prague, Czecho-Slovakia.
He began his musical studies under Jaroslav Křička and then he studied composition at the Prague Conservatory under Vítězslav Novák and Karel Hofmeister. Later, in Leipzig, he studied with Max Reger.
In 1927 his opera "Schwanda the Bagpiper" ("Švanda dudák"), had its world premiere at the Czech National Theatre, Prague, immediately establishing a world-wide reputation for its composer. Among his other compositions are the operas "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" ("Lidé z Pokerflatu), "Wallenstein" ("Valdštejn") and "The Beloved Voice" ("Milovaný hlas").
Since his arrival in New York in January, 1939, he composed several new works, including two orchestral pieces, "Variations and Fugue on «Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree»" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", as well as "Bible Poems" for organ.
Jaromír Weinberger wrote about "Bible Poems": "I composed the following six Preludes, representing my first composition for organ, while in New York during April 1939. They are inspired by the New Testament and in them I have attempted to give symbolic expression to the Biblical quotations. No theological sense whatsoever is intended. I wish to thank Mr. John Harms for his valuable suggestions in the registration of these compositions" (Far Rockaway, Long Island; July, 1939).