A Christmas Prelude (Two Preludes for Organ, No. 1)

Frederick Septimus Kelly DSC (29 May 1881 – 13 November 1916) was an Australian and British musician and composer and a rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. He was killed in action during the First World War.

He was educated at Eton and in 1889 Kelly was awarded a Lewis Nettleship musical scholarship at Oxford in that year, and went up to Balliol College, Oxford (BA, 1903; MA, 1912). He was a protégé of Ernest Walker.

He was an expert rower, and won the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics.

Following the outbreak of war in 1914, Kelly was commissioned into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve for service with the Royal Naval Division. Kelly was wounded twice at Gallipoli, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, reaching the rank of lieutenant-commander.

Kelly survived the Gallipoli slaughter, only to die at Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre, France, when rushing a German machine gun post in the last days of the Battle of the Somme in November 1916. He lies in Martinsart's British Cemetery not far from where he fell at the age of 35. As a mark of the respect they accorded him, his men had retrieved his body and carried it back through No Man's Land.

"Two Preludes" were published by Ashdown in 1925. The first, "A Christmas Prelude" is dedicated "To Sir Walter Parratt," (1841-1924), who had been organist of Magdalen College, Oxford, and St. George's, Windsor.

It is based upon the tune "Good King Wenceslas," and is quite an intellectual and technical workout - although it doesn't SOUND like it! It is dated, January 1, 1915

The sophisticated forms of raised and lowered 3rds and 7ths, combined with some very tricky and continuous writing for the left had will keep you busy! The "spread" of the writing will force you to "reach up" (or down a manual) at least twice, so watch out!

The score is attached below, as well as photos of Kelly, Parratt, and the hospital ship, H. M. T. Grantully Castle, upon which Kelly sailed.