Description: | Percy Eastman Fletcher, was born in Derby on 12 December 1879 and died on 10 December 1932 at the early age of 52. He took lessons on violin, piano and organ, the former being his most important instrument. Like a number of his composer contemporaries, he made his living as a Musical Director in the London theater world, fulfilling this position successively at the Prince of Wales, Savoy, Daly's, Drury Lane and from, 1915 until his death, His Majesty's Theatre.
Fletcher wrote a large number of suites for light orchestras, and many fine, now forgotten, orchestral works.
He also composed quite widely for organ. An Interlude of 1901 is probably his earliest dated publication, while later works include the two most famous of his organ works, both dating from 1915, "Festival Toccata" and the always exquisite, "Fountain Reverie."
"Introductory Voluntary on 'Holley'" is not a "great" piece. The tune, composed by George Hews (1806-1873), is typical of many of the mid-19th century American "protestant" hymns. I suppose some would call it "sentimental," but whether it is or not, Fletcher does a nice job with it, and there is a sense of old-fashioned English elegance about it.
The tune has a familiar feel to it, but I don't think that I've actually ever come across this in a church setting.
The piece is found in "Hymn-Tune Voluntaries, Part I" published by J. Curwen & Sons Ltd. in 1911, and the score is attached below.
I've included the text that seems to have been most closely associated with this hymn in the First Comment.
A photo of Percy Eastman Fletcher is also attached below. |