Prelude on the "Old 136th Psalm"

Charles Wood (1866-1926) was born in Armagh, Ireland. He was a treble chorister in the choir of St. Patrick's Cathedral (Church of Ireland). He received his early education at the Cathedral Choir School. In 1883 he entered the Royal College of Music, studying composition with C. V. Stanford & C. H. H. Parry. In 1889 he attained a teaching position at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, first as organ scholar and then as fellow in 1894, becoming the first Director of Music and Organist. After Stanford died, Wood assumed his mentor's vacant role as University of Cambridge Professor of Music in 1924. His pupils included Ralph Vaughan Williams at Cambridge and Herbert Howells at the Royal College of Music.

This piece opens the second set of the "Sixteen Preludes." They were published by Stainer & Bell in 1912, and really quite "rare" pieces. I say that since I've heard very few of these played. This is one that I've never heard, although I can't understand why! It's sort of in the style of Hubert Parry's "chorale fantasias," but on a smaller scale.

Generally I can find the source of the melody as well as the text usually associated with it. In this case, I can't find the tune, but I can say it's one of those magnificently severe old tunes - the type that have long since gone out of fashion.

The hymn is stated on that heavy, heavy Willis full Swell, and then the left hand, played upon the full Great (minus reeds and high mixture) come in, with the Pedal (also full without reeds) rumbling away. To top it off, the Solo tuba plays in octaves above it all.

Finally all things come together, and with a continuous rush and crescendo, the piece finally thunders into the major for the final passages. To be honest, I found it VERY hard to "pull this back" at the end!

I don't think the "associated text" has anything to do with psalm 136, but if I had to guess a sentiment: "How great is God - how small is man."

Photos of Wood, Armagh and score attached below.