Veni Spiritus (Whitsuntide)

Norman Gilbert (1912-1975) grew up in Yorkshire and was a student of Sir Edward Bairstow at York Minster. During the 1930's he held positions at St. John's Church, Halifax and St. Paul's Church, Llandudno. Shortly after release from war service, he was appointed Music Master of Headlands Grammar School in Swindon, Wiltshire.

"Veni Spiritus" Whitsuntide is the 4th of his "Pieces for Four Seasons," the other three being for Christmas, Lent, and Easter.
Published by Novello in 1959, this No. 17 in "Novello's Organ Music Club" series.

The composer writes of the piece: "'Veni Spiritus' is founded upon an original chorale, and the composer hopes that he has not used the title of an exisiting tune." (Swindon, July 1958)

The piece is written in a neo-Bach Chorale Prelude-style, and I've done two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT comparison versions of the piece. The first being on the Salisbury Willis, where the tune is played on the Great 8's and the accompaniment is played on the Swell 8's with soft 4' flute.

The second version is done on the lovely 1832 Van Dam organ of Church of Our Lady, Tholen. Here, I've played the tune of the Trompet 8' (with Tremulant) of the Hoofdwerk, and the accompaniment of the Flutes 8' & 4' of the Rugwerk.

I've used the perspective of listening to this from the greatest distance from the organ, which adds to the ethereal effect.