Chorale Prelude - Blessed Assurance

Christiaan Johannes Nobels (1938 - 2015) was organist of the Canadian Reformed Church in Brampton, Ontario for many years.

Throughout his life he produced a number of simple arrangements for a number of Genevan Psalm melodies, as well as a number of hymns. In addition, just before his death he successfully completed a set of preludes for each of the 150 Genevan Psalm melodies.

This arrangement is part of a set of three compositions on inter-related hymns (Spirit - Faith - Assurance) which he dedicated to his wife, Caroline. This is the 3rd hymn in the set.

He wrote the following about this arrangement: This Chorale Prelude begins with an introduction that teases you with the melody but doesn't quite get there. This is not unlike our faith life where we hear the gospel but often don't fully live in accordance with it. This can easily lead to doubts, which is signified by the second part that expresses this doubt by making use of a minor key: the melody is there...but it doesn't seem quite what is should be. The accompaniment with the left hand brings along a sense of urgency. And, sure enough suddenly, the melody breaks out into the open, however, the sense of urgency in the accompaniment does not let up until we get to the introduction to the chorale. Only then do we truly understand that a blessed assurance is ours.

You can find the music for this arrangement, along with many other works by Christiaan here: https://christiaannobels.com/.