A Verse

These three works are taken from "Three Seventeenth-Century Transcripts", edited and arranged by Arthur Veal, and published by Novello in 1983.

Arthur Veal (1905-1989) was a student of Edward C. Bairstow and G. D. Cunningham. He was an organist and teacher in Bedford, and later music advisor to the Nottingham Education Committee.

In all three "transcriptions," the 17th century style has been "filled out," making the effect a combination of both 17th century and 20th century sounds and effects.

The notes are taken almost directly from the foreword in the score.

"A Verse"

This is in reality an "In Nomine", an exclusively English form much in use in the later 17th century. These pieces were invariably constructed upon a plainsong verse or, as here, on a short melodic theme. The music of this example is on two staves, but as early English organs had no pedals it is not possible to know whether it was originally written for the organ. The composer seems to have been well-versed in English keyboard tradition. The manuscript copy from which this arrangement comes is now in private hands. The piece does not appear in any of the usual collections.

In this work I took the opportunity of some "exploration of colors," and while I felt the sounds enhance the music, they are certainly not based on anything "correct" for the period.

Since these works are still copyright, I have not included the score, but if you are interested in having it, please feel free to let me know. :-)