Variations on the Tune "Heinlein" "Forty days and forty nights")

Henry Marcellus Higgs (1854-1929) worked with several music publishers and composed a large amount of organ music, some of the pieces being quite substantial.

His father, Marcellus Higgs (1827-1887) was also an organist, but did not publish any music.

Although his music is rarely heard now, his "Sonata in C Minor" and "Toccata Militaire" are still played occasionally.

"Variations on the Tune 'Heinlein'" appeared in Novellos, "The Village Organist" series. Pieces in this collection range from very easy to fairly difficult.

This fine set of variations is based upon the tune, "Heinlein" which appeared in "Nürnbergisches Gesang-Buch" (1676-77), where the tune is called "Aus der Tiefe". The music is probably by Martin Herbst (b. Rothenbach, Germany, 1654; d. Eisleben, Germany, 1681), who was educated in theology and philosophy at the universities of Altdorf and Jena.

Higgs refers to his piece as a "Concluding Voluntary," but it seems more like a subtantial prelude, or even concert work.

It consists of a brief introduction, theme, and 5 variations, ranging from soft to loud, and with some nicely varied "types" of variations. The fourth is very Mendelssohnian, and appears in the major, while the final returns to the theme in the minor in "toccata-like" style.

I chose the Hill organ, as I wanted more of a "parish church feeling" to this upload.

I'm sure this will be unknown to listeners here (it is to me!), and hopefully will prove useful. Don't underestimate the technical aspect and plan to "just read it," or you may be surprised!

The score is attached below, although I have no photos of Henry Higgs to share.

Coming soon: Alan Gray's "Fantasia in G Major." This will complete the set of the three great posthumous fantasias, composed between 1905-1910, but not published until 1939.