Jubilate Deo

Henry George Ley MA DMus FRCO FRCM HonRAM (30 December 1887 – 24 August 1962) was an English organist, composer and music teacher. He was a chorister at St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle, Music Scholar at Uppingham School, Organ Scholar of Keble College Oxford, and an Exhibitioner at the Royal College of Music where he was a pupil of Sir Walter Parratt and Marmaduke Barton. He was organist at St Mary’s, Farnham Royal, from 1905–1906, and at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford (1909–1926), Professor of organ at the Royal College of Music in London from 1919, and Precentor at Radley College and at Eton College (that is, in charge of the music in College Chapel) from 1926 to 1945. He was an Honorary Fellow of Keble College, Oxford, from 1926 to 1945 and died on 24 August 1962.

"Jubilate Deo" was published by Oxford University Press in 1950, and like the preceding "Adagio" is dedicated "To H. T. Y". I think this may be Ley's last published work.

I've never heard this piece played, and while I've "known of it" for several years, I've always put off doing it, as I couldn't quite figure out what Ley wanted it to sound like! I'm still not sure. :-)

I was also put off by the metronome mark, which MUST be wrong, especially since the work is marked "Maestoso."

I'm not sure how to describe the work. It's not a "fanfare", and I think there despite it's volume-level, there may be something of a "pastoral nature" about it, as I'm assuming that Ley took the text of Psalm 100 (Jubilate Deo) as his inspiration.

As a funny "performance note," I had been trying to work this out, going back and forth between Salisbury and Hereford. I couldn't get it the way I wanted, but had "decided" on Salisbury, then I did this as a "practice take." When I listened to it, I couldn't really "find fault," so... ;-)

Ley's music has a unique "feel" to it, and it stands sort of apart from other composers.

The score is attached below, as well as two photos of H. G. Ley.