Christmas Offertory

Elmer Samuel Hosmer (21 March 1862 — 25 April 1945) was an American composer. A native of Massachusetts, he studied with E. G. Whiting, J. C. D. Parker and Percy Goetschius, and wrote a good deal of church music. He also composed a number of cantatas, including one about Christopher Columbus (Columbus: A Short Cantata for Men's Voices) and one after "The Man Without a Country". He set a poem by Clara Hapgood Nash, "Mother", to music as a song.

He was an organist in Boston, as well as several other states, and taught music at the Rhode Island College of Education in Providence, for some years starting in 1924.

"Christmas Offertory" is yet another one of "those pieces". You'll love it, or maybe not! I really enjoy bringing something like this to life, but there was a time when I would have called this corny and avoided it, although I probably would have ALWAYS secretly liked it!

When looking for things to upload for Christmas, I found this a few days ago, and did it earlier today.

It was published by Theo. Presser Co. in 1925, and is "programmatic" in that it "paints the scene" for different aspects of the Nativity.

It opens with "Midnight on the Judean Plains" then "Holy Night", "The Song of the Shepherds", "At the Manger Cradle", then ending with another "The Song of the Shepherds" as they make their way back to whence they came.

The work gives the chance for a good variety of colors, and the Peterborough Hill is more than up to the task at hand! The opening even gives the old Hill a chance to do its imitation of the string division at Wanamaker's... :-)

As I said, you'll love it or hate it, and I hope you love it!

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of E. S. Hosmer.

There is another "paired piece" titled "March of the Wise Men", and I'll do that for Epiphany on January 6th.

Peace and Blessings to All, and Happiness and Safety in the New Year!