All Saints' Day of the Pennsylvania Croations

I was completely at a loss for something to play for All Saints' Day. I discovered this last night, hated it at first, but now think it's pretty neat!

As in the case of other "programmatic" pieces by Gaul, the "actions" are detailed on the score, and given in the First Comment.

American composer, organist, conductor, and choirmaster, Harvey Bartlett Gaul (born April 12, 1881, Brooklyn - died December 1, 1945 - Pittsburgh), studied organ, harmony and composition with George LeJeune in New York, and then with Dudley Buck. He went to Paris to complete his training with Widor, Guilmant and Decaux (organ) at the Conservatoire and with D’Indy (composition and orchestration) at the Schola Cantorum (1909-1910).

He was assistant organist at the St. John’s Chapel in New York (1899-1901), and then organist and choirmaster at Emmanuel Church in Cleveland (1901-1909). He also wrote music criticism for the Cleveland News. In 1910 he settled in Pittsburgh as organist of Calvary Episcopal Church (1910-1945), served as music critic (1914-1934) and arts editor 1929-1934) of the Post Gazette He conducted the Pittsburgh Civic String Orchestra (1936-1945) and the Savoyard Opera Company (1939-1945) and taught at the University of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Institute of Technology.

A prolific composer, Harvey Bartlett Gaul wrote more than 500 works. He is most remembered for his organ and church music. His organ works and numerous and varied, and his choral compositions include both church anthems and secular cantatas.

"All Saints' Day" was published in 1931 by J. Fischer & Bro., and is "Inscribed to Elmer Tidmarsh, organist at Union College, Schenectady, N.Y.", who was also a student of Widor.

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of Harvey B. Gaul, two of Calvary Church in Pittsburgh, and a "mysterious apparition" that some say appeared on the hill side as the stroke of midnight fell upon the conclusion of the celebration of All Saints' Day - or maybe not... ;-)