Lento (Twelve Miniatures, No. 1)

Henry Marcellus Higgs (1854-1929) was the son of Marcellus Higgs (1827-1897) and Clara Tomlin. His father, also an organist, published no organ music.

H. M. Higgs worked with several music publishers and published a fairly large output of organ music. I have no indication of any places at which he served as organist, but he clearly knew how to write for the instrument.

Unfortunately, this is all the biographical information that I have about Henry Higgs.

"Twelve Miniatures" dates from 1913 and was published by Novello & Co. Ltd. The set was part of the publisher's "Original Compositions for the Organ (New Series)," where it appears as No. 27. It is dedicated: "To A. Healey Foster, Esq." Each piece is different in style and format, and some could be called "studies" as they deal with a particular technical aspect of organ playing.

The first piece, "Lento," and in the key of D major, is a sort of "prelude" that begins quietly, but soon increases significantly in volume and animation, before returning to the calming mood of the opening.

In looking for "something to play," the first piece struck me as being "very English," and it immediately appealed to me. Hopefully this, and the others to follow, will appeal my listeners.

I have no photos of Henry Marcellus Higgs to share, but the score is attached below.