Prelude on the tune "Kocher" (Twelve Hymn Tune Voluntaries, No. 5)

Ernest Alfred Dicks (1865-1948) was an organist in Cheltenham, and also to the Royal Masonic Lodge. He published several collections, including these fine set of "Hymn Tune Voluntaries - Twelve Pieces for Organ in Various Styles founded on Favourite Psalm and Hymn Tunes," published by Bayley & Ferguson in 1923.

The style is indeed varied, and some of the pieces, actually, most of the pieces, are filled with charm and color. They are unpretentious, and quite "old fashioned," especially when you consider what was happening in the musical world of 1923!

All of them are brief, and while none of them are really hard, I can't say that many of them are actually easy. I suppose it depends on the degree of "detailing" that you want to do.

I'm doing the entire set of 12, but skipping over the Christmas ones for now, and holding off on the Easter ones, which I'll do at the appropriate time. I've also omitted the "Thanksgiving" one for the time being.

"Prelude on the tune 'Kocher'" is the 5th in the collection. It is dedicated: To "George", and takes the melody composed by Justin Heinrich Knecht (1752-1817) as its theme. This tune is also known by the name of "Knecht," and in a slightly revised version as "St. Hilda." The selected text is: "O happy band of pilgrims, If onward ye will tread, With Jesus as your fellow, To Jesus as your Head."

The word "delightful" is overused, but I'm afraid that's EXACTLY what this one is! It begins with an upward moving burst of joy and reaches it's peak like a little rocket, before falling back into a sprightly fughetta, leading to an exciting pedal-point, and a mini-fanfare and BIG finish - and all in all in less than 2 1/2 minutes!

BIG LIKE for this little one!!!

The scores are courtesy, once again, of Dr. John Henderson, Librarian for the Royal School of Church Music. They are attached below in 2 pdf's, as the "complete" set omits two pages from the first piece in the collection.

THANK YOU, John!

Peace and safety to All!