John Franklin Carré was born on October 20, 1894 in Racine Wisconsin and died there in November of 1966. He was an organist in Racine, and was a pupil of the great Clarence Eddy (1851-1937) and of Felix Borowski (1872-1956).
He wrote an astounding three-movement "Sonata Eroica" in 1951, and you can hear a complete performance of it here:
https://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/23883
"Mountain Sketches" (Three Tone Poems) was published by J. Fischer & Bro. in 1946.
The first piece, "Sierra Madre" is dedicated: "To Pietro Yon."
Pietro Yon (1886-1943) was a great Italian/American virtuoso organist and composer, as well as organist of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City.
These three pieces all essentially"describe" the Sierra Madre.
The Sierra Madre Occidental is a major mountain range system of the North American Cordillera, that runs northwest–southeast through northwestern and western Mexico, and along the Gulf of California. The Sierra Madre is part of the American Cordillera, a chain of mountain ranges (cordillera) that consist of an almost continuous sequence that form the western "sounds" of North America, Central America, South America, and West Antarctica.
The Spanish name "sierra madre" means "mother mountain range" in English.
The first tone poem, "Sierra Madre" portrays the massive breadth and height of the monumental mountain range. Come along on the journey as we climb up and up, struggling to attain the massive peak, before we find ourselves exhausted, and making camp in the surrounding darkness.
Changing dynamics and colors help to convey the scene to the listener.
The score is attached below, as well as a photo of the First Presbyterian Church in Racine, where Carré served as organist.
Also attached are several photos of the dedicatee, Pietro Yon, and one of the magnificent Sierra Madre.
More extensive notes about the composer are given in the First Comment.
Tomorrow: "Horizon" the second of the three tone poems.
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