Scherzo on "In dulci jubilo"

Thomas Frederick Handel Candlyn (1892–1964) was an English-born organist, composer and choirmaster who spent most of his professional career at two Episcopal Church congregations in New York.

He was born December 17, 1892 in Davenham, Cheshire, England, the son of Thomas John Candlyn, an organist, and received the Bachelor of Music degree from Durham University in 1911. In 1915 he was offered the position of organist and choirmaster at St. Paul’s Church, Albany, and he emigrated to the United States. He was to remain at St. Paul’s for twenty-eight years. In 1918 he became a United States citizen.

In 1943 he succeeded T. Tertius Noble as organist and choirmaster at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, New York, where he remained until his retirement in 1954. He composed two hundred works, primarily anthems, cantatas, service settings and organ solos.

I dedicate this performance with friendship to our member Tweedle_Dee, as they commented that they had enjoyed some earlier Candlyn uploads. I hope you like this one too!

"Scherzo on 'In dulci jubilo'" was published by Oliver Ditson Company in 1931. It is marked "Allegro con brio", but the MM as written is impossibly fast!

The piece consists of 3 "sections": a loud opening segment which switches keys from F major to B minor as it slows down, and then rapidly increases speed as it works it back to a reworking of the intial section. A big climax is reached, then interrupted by a "pp" passage, which passes into a "fff" coda, where the Solo tuba makes a big impact.

This piece doesn't have the same "appeal" as the Christmas preludes recently uploaded, but is still typical of Candlyn's style.

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of Candlyn taken at the organ in the OLD St. Paul's Church in Albany, along with some "new" photos of the church the organ, and the day was knocked down in 1964.

TOMORROW: "Ring out, wild bells" - Edgar L. Bainton

"What cheer? Good cheer!" - Peter Warlock