Prière à la Vierge (Feast of the Assumption of the BVM)

Today, August 15th is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To be honest, I'm fresh out of Marian pieces, but then I found "Prière à la Vierge" by our old buddy, Charles Grey! :-)

Charles Grey (1849-1923) was born in Norfolk, England. His father was also an organist.

He taught at the London College of Music, and published quite a number of compositions, most of which are of a light nature.

"Prière à la Vierge" is found in the "Gray Album of Twenty Pieces for the Organ", published by Schott around 1913. The work is found on page 64.

Schott had a number of these large collections, and they are identified by the color of their cover. They had a blue, brown, gold, red, etc. Please note this is the GRAY volume, and not the GREY volume.

"Prière à la Vierge" is a fresh and youthful-sounding work. It reminded me of some of the painting of the Annunciation where the angel Gabriel comes to the young Mary as she is sitting at her spinning wheel.

There is a little bit of a "French feel" to this work.

It struck me as being quite unique to find an Anglican organ composer writing a "Marian" work at this time. I really can't name others, but there a number of "Ave Maria's" floating around.

Light and cheerful and in the key of G major, the work features first the Swell oboe, than the soft foundations of the Great, and finally the famous Hohlfute of the Great, which you'll notice is a little "too big" at the end.

The score is attached below, a photo of Charles Grey, complete with top hat, and an image of the painting of the Annunciation, painted by Rubens.

Peace to All!


Prière à la Vierge