Bible Poems: For Organ

Jaromír Weinberger’s “Bible Poems” for Organ (1939)

I cannot tell you how long I’ve had this score in my possession. I must have bought it at one of the music expos that came through as an undergrad, because it’s quite old, and I paid $4.50 for it from the Belwin company at some point, according to the price sticker still attached. I don’t think this is accessible any more. I’ve also never performed these pieces anywhere, despite having the score for so long, as the registration requirements are very difficult and specific. But they fit perfectly with this chapel organ at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. The English tuba is definitely an asset, as well as the oboe and clarinet on the solo division. My edition also has Hammond suggestions at the end by Porter Heaps, who writes: “This music, you will see, is quite out of the ordinary, probably not like anything you have ever heard before, and it is not easy. But it is really great music, and I hope many of my readers will get a copy and tackle it.” I say AMEN, Porter.

So, these have been uploaded before (12 years ago) by the other David, a.k.a. AgnusDei, and his recordings are most excellent. I actually used his recordings to inform my own performance of these unordinary, yet great, musical works. He’s already done the write ups for everything, some coming directly from the published score and a lot more that he provided himself. I don’t have anything to add to his quite thorough write-ups, so I’ll simply refer you to his scholarship. [My comments are added in brackets like this, and I edited his to fit with this upload.]

I’ve recorded mine here as an entire set.

1. Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent: (0:00)
2. Lord Jesus walking on the sea: (2:45)
3. The marriage in Cana of Galilee: (5:52)
4. Hosanna: (7:23)
5. The last supper: (9:14)
6. Hear, O Israel: (11:40)