Prelude on "St. Bernard"

Thomas Frederick Handel Candlyn (1892–1964) was an English-born organist, composer and choirmaster who spent most of his professional career at two Episcopal Church congregations in New York.

He was born December 17, 1892 in Davenham, Cheshire, England, the son of Thomas John Candlyn, an organist, and received the Bachelor of Music degree from Durham University in 1911. In 1915 he was offered the position of organist and choirmaster at St. Paul’s Church, Albany, and he emigrated to the United States. He was to remain at St. Paul’s for twenty-eight years. In 1918 he became a United States citizen.

In 1943 he succeeded T. Tertius Noble as organist and choirmaster at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, New York, where he remained until his retirement in 1954. He composed two hundred works, primarily anthems, cantatas, service settings and organ solos.

"Prelude on 'St. Bernard," was published by Abingdon Press in 1961. Although it comes from near the end of Candlyn's life, the music has lost NONE of it's unique creativity.

The tune, "St. Bernard" is also known as "Tochter Sion" and appeared in(Köln, Germany in 1741. It is sung to a variety of texts, such as "All ye who seek for sore relief in trouble and distress," and, "I waited for the Lord my God," and others, but Candlyn doesn't quote the text he has in mind.

The work is marked "Lento," but the metronome mark is more of "Andante". The melody, played by the left hand, is set in between flowing phrases that use melodic material as "accompanimental figuration."

I found the final cadences to be of extreme beauty and not at all what you would expect to hear!

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of Candlyn at the organ of St. Paul's Church in Albany, NY, which was demolished in 1964.

Notice that he has the Reubke Sonata on the music rack... ;-)