Crusader's Hymn

The American organist and composer, Richard Keys Biggs (16 September 1886 — 17 December 1962) received an Hon.Mus.D from Loyola University in Chicago. He studied in London with Sir Richard Runciman Terry, the founder of the Choir and Choir School at Westminster Cathedral (Roman Catholic) in London.

He worked in Southern California, and was organist of the San Diego Exposition, as well as of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, as well as several other churches in Canada and in Brooklyn, New York. In all these churches, he either founded or directed choirs of men and boys, so, that "elevates" him, at least in my eyes... ;-). In the 1940’s he was director of the men's and boy's choirs of the new church and parochial school at Blessed Sacrament in Hollywood. California.

For years I've seen his name, but never bothered to look at his music. He is NOT related to the famous concert organist, E. Power Biggs, but his son, John Biggs is also a composer.

This arrangement of the "Crusader's Hymn" was published by the McLaughlin & Reilly Co. in 1949. It's by no means a piece of great literature, but I suppose it's nice enough, and some may find it useful.

This hymn melody is a Silesian Folk melody, which appeared in"Schlesische Volkslieder" , published in Leipzig in 1842. It is associated with several texts, and is often found under the tune name of "St. Elizabeth."

It also appears with several texts. If you're Anglican or Episcopalian, you probably know it with "Fairest Lord Jesus." If you're Roman Catholic, as Biggs was, you know it as "O God of loveliness.

Biggs' setting will call for some taste and creativity to make it work well. I did this very simply, but I did make extensive use of the Swell box to shade and phrase the line.

I'd beware the direction "Very slowly" and also don't be too heavy with "Add heavy diapason 16'." This isn't the perfect organ, but, here it is. :-)

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of Biggs.