The Little Bells of Our Lady of Lourdes

American composer, organist, conductor, and choirmaster, Harvey Bartlett Gaul (1881 - 1945), studied organ, harmony and composition with George LeJeune in New York, and then with Dudley Buck. He went to Paris to complete his training with Widor, Guilmant and Decaux (organ) at the Conservatoire and with D’Indy (composition and orchestration) at the Schola Cantorum (1909-1910).

He was assistant organist at the St. John’s Chapel in New York (1899-1901), and then organist and choirmaster at Emmanuel Church in Cleveland (1901-1909). He also wrote music criticism for the Cleveland News. In 1910 he settled in Pittsburgh as organist of Calvary Episcopal Church (1910-1945), served as music critic (1914-1934) and arts editor 1929-1934) of the Post Gazette. He conducted the Pittsburgh Civic String Orchestra, the Savoyard Opera Company, and taught at the University of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Institute of Technology.

A prolific composer, Harvey Bartlett Gaul wrote more than 500 works. He is most remembered for his organ and church music. His organ works and numerous and varied, and his choral compositions include both church anthems and secular cantatas.

"The Little Bells of Our Lady of Lourdes" was published by J. Fischer & Bro. in 1924. It is the first of 2 movements, the second being "Vesper Processional." It is dedicated: "Written for the opening of the New Organ of the Northside Carnegie Music Hall, Pittsburgh, Pa. and inscribed to Caspar Koch, Organist."

Koch (1872-1970) was a well-known virtuoso performer and arranger of many famous orchestral works.

I guess this is the sort of piece you love or hate. You can guess what this is going to sound like, although I think this is actually quite successful in creating the effect of a ring of bells, especially in the way the ending is worked out.

See FIRST COMMENT for more.

The score is attached below, as well a photo of Harvey Gaul, some churches he served, and a photo of the Northside Carnegie Music Hall.