Meditation in a Village Churchyard

Charles William Pearce (1858-1928) was a pupil of W. S. Hoyte (All Saints, Margaret Street, London) and of John Hopkins (Temple Church, London).

He taught at Trinity College, London, and was organist of St. Clement's Church, Eastcheap, London.

He published a large amount of music, including some large, and significant choral pieces. There are a large number of organ works, and he was active working with the publisher, Charles Vincent.

He did a large number of transcriptions, and had a keen interest in plainsong, showing that he was undoubtedly an Anglo-Catholic. :-)

I confess to knowing little about him, but our member, "Erzahler" showed me a recital program that he attended last week, and this work as in the recital. I was able to find it on IMSLP, but despite the fact that Pearce wrote a lot of music, there isn't much around anymore.

"Meditation in a Village Churchyard" was published by J. B. Millett in 1896. It is inspired by a verse from John Keble:

Gently lay him down
Within some circling wall
Where bright leaves, reddening ere they fall
Wave gently o'er the waters brown.

Obviously the peace is elgaic, but it isn't morbid by any means. There is a solemn and mature beauty about it, poured out in a continuous manner.

I must say that I found this VERY hard to "get right!" Perhaps I attempted to "over-detail it," but it just about gave me fits, and I wound up trying this on 4 different organs, before settling upon the Salisbury Willis as the best choice.

The score is attached below, but I have no photos of Charles Pearce. Instead, I have attached several photos of St. Clement's, Eastcheap where he served as organist.