The rain is over and gone, Op. 154

John Henderson, probably Swindon's only full-time musicologist, acts as Honorary Librarian and Archivist to the Royal School of Church Music, a post he has held since 1995, and he serves as organist and choirmaster of Wroughton Parish Church.

He was trained at Magdalen College School, Oxford and is a medical graduate of St. John's College in Cambridge. He was formerly the senior partner of the NHS General Practice in Fairford, Gloucestershire. He retired from medicine in 1992 and lives in Old Town, Swindon. He describes himself as a 'train-spotter cum hoarder' of organ music and his personal library of 60,000 pieces of organ music supplies source material to many performers and recording companies world-wide.

Many of the fine and rare works that have I have uploaded recently were given to me by JH. THANK YOU, John! He is one of members here "FRSCMJohn".

John was awarded the ARSCM (Associate of the Royal School of Church Music) in 1996 and named as an FRSCM (Fellow of the RSCM) in 2016.

He is the author/co-author of several books, his most famous being "The Dictionary of Organ Composers".

"The rain is over and gone" is dated: "Fairford 10/12/1992." It draws its inspiration from the beautiful Song of Solomon (Solomon 2:11).
This text is about love and rebirth, and is often associated with weddings and the spring. Sorry, John, if I'm a bit out of date with my seasons! :-)

I could not help but feel a certain similarity with parts of "Vêpres du commun des fêtes de la Sainte Vierge". by Marcel Dupré. Certainly the mood is French, and the harmonies are mystical and the melodic writing refined. A fine climax is reached before the hushed end puts all to a peaceful conclusion.

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of John Henderson, and two pictures of Wroughton Parish Church where he is organist and director of music.