Elegy (in memory of Queen Elizabeth II)

I hadn't intended to upload anything for the queen, but at the last, I decided that I should do something, so, this is the only "elegy" that I could find.

The American organist and composer, S. Archer Gibson (1875-1952) received his entire musical training in Baltimore. He played the organ in public since the age of 8 years. He played in nearly all the principal churches of Baltimore.

Archer Gibson was instructor in organ and composition at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and served as organist and choir-master of the First Presbyterian Church of Baltimore. He was also well-known as a composer.

In May of 1901, Archer Gibson was appointed as choir-master and organist of the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City, and served in this post for eight years, preceding Clarence Dickinson. He was also one of the first Guild members to pass the FAGO exam. He was also chairman of the Guild's first committee on console standardization.

In his time Archer Gibson ranked as one of the leading organists in the USA. During the first decades of the 20th century, when it was fashionable for millionaires to have organs in their homes, Gibson's unique talent made him indispensable to the Sloanes, Schwabs, Fricks, Tiffanys, Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, and other "captains of industry". Though some of the men, and many of their wives, attended the Metropolitan Opera, their musical sophistication ran more in the line of everybody's favorites than classical organ literature. Trained in the latter, Gibson provided the former by the hour and was paid in the tens of thousands.

Sounds like a good deal to me... ;-)

The piece is very different from the grand and solemn works heard today at the Queen's funeral. However, I've played just about the "elegies" I have, so, I hope this one is pleasing and moving to any and all listeners.

The score is attached below, as well as several photos of S. Archer Gibson.

Tomorrow, I'll upload the 12 Miniature by Higgs and complete the set.