Postlude (Six Liturgical Pieces, No. 6)

Isadore Freed (March 26, 1900 – November 10, 1960) was of Belarusian birth. Born in Brest-Litovsk, now Brest, Belarus, Freed's family emigrated to the United States when Freed was three years old and settled in Philadelphia, where his father owned a music store. Freed began playing piano at age seven, and began composing at age nine. His formal music education was at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor's degree at the age of 18. After graduation went to Berlin where he briefly studied piano with Josef Weiss, and then to Paris where he studied composition with Ernst Bloch, Nadia Boulanger, Louis Vierne and Vincent d'Indy. He also studied piano with Józef Hofmann and George Bayle, and organ with Rollo Maitland. Freed returned to the United States in 1934, and shortly after he was employed by the composition department at Temple University from the mid-1930s until the mid-1940s. In 1944, Freed was named head of the composition department at the Hartt School of Music where he taught in various capacities until his death in 1960. In 1951 he was also hired as Harmony instructor at the Hebrew Union School of Sacred Music.

"Postlude" is by far the shortest of the set. It is based upon a motif taken from the composer's "Sacred Service". It is a swinging and festive work, with "fanfares" woven into the texture. There is a feeling of joy, and this is enhanced by the clever use of syncopations.

I've even managed to get the Solo tuber in here - not once, not twice, but THREE times! :-)

This is the conclusion of this set of pieces by Isadore Freed. I hope that you've enjoyed hearing them as much I did learning and recording them.

I hope that you'll try some of these for yourselves. I think you'll be pleased with the
time spent on them!

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of Isadore Freed.