Prelude and Christmas Pastoral (The Manger Throne)

Charles Fonteyn Manney (1872-1951) was born in New York City. He studied at the Polytechnic Institute in Brooklyn, studied music with William Arms Fisher in New York, with Wallace Goodrich and Percy Goetschius in Boston, 1898-1930 musical editor for Oliver Ditson in Boston. He was conductor of the Footlight Orchestra in Boston, choral conductor of the MacDowell Club, member of the Harvard Musical Association, Papyrus Club, Boston City Club and Saengerfest Association of Boston. As an editor he used the pseudonyms Robert E Austin, Carl Clemson, Jack Doran, Hartley Moore and Arthur Westbrook.

The Christmas cantata "The Manger Throne, Op. 9" was published by Oliver Ditson in 1913.

"Prelude and Christmas Pastoral" were transcribed by organist and composer, Richard Keys Biggs (1886 — 1962). He received an Hon.Mus.D from Loyola University in Chicago. He studied in London with Sir R. R. Terry, the founder of the Choir and Choir School at Westminster Cathedral (Roman Catholic) in London.

He worked in Southern California, and was organist of the San Diego Exposition, as well as of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, as well as several other churches in Canada and in Brooklyn, New York. In all these churches, he either founded or directed choirs of men and boys. In the 1940’s he was director of the men's and boy's choirs of the new church and parochial school at Blessed Sacrament in Hollywood.

I have to admit that I found this piece to have a lot of appeal. It's something like a cross between American Episcopalianism and Radio City, as you'll discover as soon as the opening fanfare starts. This segues nicely into the pastorale section, which leads back to the opening material, concluding with a short coda.

I dedicate this upload with friendship to our member, Park, who serves as organist at one of the churches where Biggs served.

Score attached below, as well as a photo of R. Biggs.

TOMORROW - "Scherzo on 'In dulci jubilo'" - T. Frederick H. Candlyn