Meditation in B-flat major

Max Oesten (1843-1917) was a pupil of A. W. Bach and an organist in Königsberg.

He was the son of Theodore Oesten (1813-1870) the famous teacher in Berlin. Theodore published no organ music.

"Meditation in B-flat major" is probably arranged from an "unstated original" by Francis Cunningham Woods (1862-1929), and published by Novello in "Church Voluntaries, Book 3".

Woods was a pupil of Sullivan and Prout, and organist of Brasenose and Exeter Colleges in Oxford. After serving as organist to the Duke of Marlborough, he later succeeded W. G. Wood at Highgate School.

He published a number of cantatas and organ works, both original and arrangements/transcriptions.

In addition, he was co-editor with Sir John Stainer, of "The Village Organist" series, published by Novello.

This a nice, warm Germanic piece. It would be useful as a church prelude, but not substantial enough to stand as a recital work.

The score is attached below, as well as two photos of Francis Cunningham Woods, and several of the chapels of Brasenose and Exeter colleges, Oxford, where Woods served as organist.

Unfortunately, I have no photos of the composer, Theodore Oesten.