Alba (Dawn) Un Giorno in Venezia, Op. 25, No. 1 (A Day in Venice)

Ethelbert Woodbridge Nevin (November 25, 1862 – February 17, 1901) was born on November 25, 1862, at Vineacre, on the banks of the Ohio River, in Edgeworth, Pennsylvania. There he spent the first sixteen years of his life, and received all his schooling, most of it from his father, Robert Peebles Nevin, editor and proprietor of a Pittsburgh newspaper. His mother, Elizabeth Duncan Oliphant, was a pianist. The first grand piano ever taken across the Allegheny Mountains was carted over for Nevin's mother. Other members of the Nevin family showed musical inclinations as well; Nevin's younger brother, Arthur, also achieved some renown as a composer, as did his cousins George and Gordon Balch Nevin.

From a young age, Nevin was musically inclined. He began playing the piano by the age of four, although he needed cushions piled on the pedals to enable him to reach them. Nevin's father provided for his son both vocal and instrumental instruction. He also took him abroad for two years of travel and music study in Dresden under Von Böhme. In 1878, he attended Western University, now known as the University of Pittsburgh, but left at the end of his freshman year in 1879. Later he studied the piano for two years at Boston, under Benjamin Johnson Lang, and composition under Stephen A. Emery.

In addition to composing, he taught piano and singing, but overwork and poor health led to his death.

"A Day in Venice" consists of four movements and was published in 1898 by The John Church Co. in Cincinnati. It is originally for piano solo. The music is evocative and is definitely a child of its time.

The arrangement was done by Gerrit Smith (1859-1912). He was organist of the South Dutch Reformed Church (Old South) in New York City, and a "founder" of the American Guild or Organists.

I'm not sure it fully translates to the organ, but I think it's OK, and I hope my listeners will like it.

The score is attached below, as well as photos of Ethelbert Nevin and Gerrit Smith.