Laudation

This is another selection from Volume 3 of "Pipe Dusters" ... a pull-out-all-the-stops collection for the church organist. (Lorenz Publishing Co.)

For me this piece was somewhat difficult to learn since the patterns of chords changes and repeated notes wasn't always what I expected. I especially like the middle section where there are some very interesting chord progressions.

I've made several other recordings of the piece late in 2015 that are played faster than this rendition. The music actually indicates it should be only 1-1/2 minutes long and this one is almost a minute longer.

The reason for playing it at this tempo is because of the very live acoustics of the Poblet Abbey Chapel. This tempo allows the chords to more fully develop. Also, I did hold onto the last note quite a long time. If you listen carefully after it's released you can get a true idea of just how long the reverberation decay is for this organ.

The following is from the Lorenz Corporation web site:

Gilbert M. Martin's music and lyrics are well‑established with America's leading publishing houses. For more than forty years, organists, pianists, and choral ensembles in both schools and churches have performed and enjoyed his many and varied original compositions and arrangements.

A native of Southbridge, Massachusetts, Mr. Martin studied organ with Alexander McCurdy and George Lynn at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where he was honored as a distinguished composer and alumnus.

Although he lives quietly in the Dayton area, he is often given the opportunity to teach, cajole, and conduct numerous musical ensembles throughout the country, and he remains an active composer in the choral, piano, and organ genres.