A Stately Processional

Eric DeLamarter (February 18, 1880 - Lansing, Michigan, - May 17, 1953 - Orlando, Florida, USA) was an American organist, conductor, music critic, teacher, and composer. He studied organ with Fairclough in St. Paul, Middelschulte in Chicago, and Guilmant and Widor in Paris (1901-1902), and was a graduate of Albion College in Michigan (1900).

After finishing his studies, he held several organ positions in Chicago, notably with the Fourth Presbyterian Church (1914-1936). He was music critic for the Chicago Inter-Ocean (1901-1914), the Chicago Record-Herald (1905-1908), and the Chicago Tribune (1909-1910). He also taught at Olivet College (1904-1905), Chicago Musical College (1909-1910), University of Missouri, Ohio State University, and the University of Texas. Among his pupils was Leon Stein. He was a close friend and advisor to Leo Sowerby as well as a champion of Sowerby's music. DeLamarter aided Sowerby in his becoming an accomplished organist.

I dedicate this performance with appreciation and friendship to our member AJJ. After hearing my upload of DeLamarter's "Carillon," Alastair was kind enough to send me this work, as well as number of others by the same composer, giving me his permission to share the scores.

"A Stately Processional" was published by H.W. Gray in 1921, but is very modern for its time. There is a lot of "splash" and color in it, and I made sure not to ruin it by holding the last chord too long. I think Salisbury is best for this one.

THANK YOU, Alastair!

On a personal note, I want to say THANK YOU to ALL MY LISTENERS.

Last night my TOTAL NUMBER of LISTENS reached the ONE HALF MILLION MARK!

I hope to do many more uploads that entice you to listen, but I wanted you to know how much I appreciate the time you spent in getting me to what I think is a pretty big milestone. :-)

The score is attached below, as well as two photos of the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, where DeLamarter was organist.