Eureka Suite (1965)

George Brandon (1924–2000) — Eureka Suite (1965) for organ

1) Fuging-Tune: “Delight”
2) Variations on “Dunlap’s Creek”
3) Variations on “Salem”
4) March on “Royal Proclamation”

“Eureka Suite” (1965) was composed for an organ dedication recital at Eureka Christian Church in Eureka, Illinois. Brandon and his wife had been faculty members at Eureka College in earlier years. After a previous building burned down in 1932, the church built a new sanctuary in 1935 and commissioned a small (8 rank) Aeolian-Skinner organ (Op. 972). In 1964, the church raised funds for an enlargement of their buildings and the organ, which Aeolian-Skinner rebuilt and increased to 15 ranks (Op. 972-A). The four movements are based on early American hymn tunes taken from “The Christian Psalmist” (ed. Silas W. Leonard, 1854) published in the American Midwest.

American composer George Brandon (1924–2000) was born in Stockton, California and educated at the University of the Pacific and Union Theological Seminary. He taught at Eureka College, William Penn College, and after relocating to Davis, California in 1962, he held positions at a number of churches, notably at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, whose new Schlicker organ he designed in 1982. His more than 300 published compositions included numerous choral, organ, and piano works.