| Description: | Lester H. Groom (1929–2000) was born in Chicago and received his early keyboard training from both his mother and father. His father later became his major professor in organ and composition at Wheaton College (Illinois), where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in 1951. He earned the Master of Music degree in organ performance from Northwestern University in 1952. Groom held teaching positions at Moody Bible Institute (Chicago), Blue Mountain College (Mississippi), and Baker University (Kansas). He joined the faculty of Seattle Pacific University in 1969, where he taught organ, harpsichord, music theory, and composition. He retired from SPU in 1991 and was named Professor Emeritus the following year. Throughout his career, he held positions as church organist and choir director. He served as organist of First Presbyterian Church, Seattle from 1979 until his retirement in 1996.
His published works include organ and choral compositions, articles, and music reviews. He was a specialist in the art of organ improvisation and was a frequent lecturer at church music workshops and for thirteen summers he served on the faculty of the Evergreen Conference School of Church Music (Colorado).
"Two Scriptural Contemplations" are really "meditations" based upon well-known verses from the Bible.
The first, "Wherefore, comfort one another with these words" is in an A-B-A format. The "framing" sections are quite rich harmonically, while the middle section is a rhapsodic flute solo, which also contrast nicely with the outer parts. Rather than just use Swell strings, I've made this more "French sounding," and I think the result is a successful one.
This work and the other two pieces I am uploading today will complete the soon to be published volume by Lorenz.
There is also an excellent transcription of a Mozart "Church Sonata" as part of the collection, but I have not recorded this.
A photo of Lester Groom is attached below. |
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