Duologue and Choral

Homer C Nearing (1895-1986), was born in Springfield, Missouri, and graduated from the Kansas City Conservatory of music. During his career, he was a music professor and church musician from 1914 until 1920 in Texas. While there, he was inspired to compose his impressionistic organ suites by the history and terrain of the Southwestern United States.

In all likelihood, I'll be uploaded some of those "southwestern suites" soon. :-)

"Duologue and Choral" was published by the H. W. Gray Co., Inc. in 1945 as "#714" in their large "St. Cecilia Series".

This piece struck me as odd and without much appeal at the first one or two playthroughs, but after a few more times, I grew to sort of like, so, I hope you will as well.

The first section alternates two ideas which are different in both material and dynamics, while the second section features the choral (chorale), first softly, and then loudly, building up to the full organ.

The Solo Tuba, plus 16' coupler, repeat the first idea during pauses in the phrases of the choral. Nearing calls for the 16' 8' and 4' couplers, but I would not do that, as the Tuba is already very loud, and near the top of its range.

Be on the lookout for more Homer Nearing items soon.

A photo of Homer Nearing is attached below. It comes from a newspaper interview with him, and is the only one that I found.