Composed by Brian Joyce. 21st Century, Neo-Classical, Christian, Sacred, General Worship. Score. 37 pages. Published by Brian Joyce (S0.241799). - Score - 21st Century,Neo-Classical,Christian,Sacred,General Worship - Brian Joyce

Composed by Brian Joyce. Contemporary Classical, Sacred, General Worship, Christmas. Score. 29 pages. Published by Brian Joyce (S0.161021). - Score - Contemporary Classical,Sacred,General Worship,Christmas - Brian Joyce

Organ - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.836716

Composed by Brian Joyce. Christian,Contemporary,Sacred. Score. 12 pages. Brian Joyce #4966351. Published by Brian Joyce (A0.836716).

For many years I have enjoyed playing the simpler manualiter chorale preludes of Zachau and J. G. Walter in the old Peters edition many organists will be familiar with. Then there are the delightful little preludes of Ernst Pepping which I first heard as a teenager in a recording by E. Power Biggs. I had something of a cross between these two influences in mind for this new set of English preludes. There are some finger-twisting moments here and there, but by and large these manuals-only pieces are meant to be shorter, more direct, and simpler (in concept, if not execution!) than my larger sets of preludes. The hymns dealt with here represent a useful mix of liturgical purposes and include Holy, Holy, Holy!, Come, Thou Almighty King, When Morning Gilds the Skies, Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates, All Things Bright and Beautiful, Beneath the Cross of Jesus, The Church’s One Foundation, and Christ the Lord is Risen Today. As always, sources and timings are included and the score prints in landscape format.

Organ - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.836717

Composed by Brian Joyce. Christian,Contemporary,Sacred. Score. 19 pages. Brian Joyce #5030397. Published by Brian Joyce (A0.836717).

A sister volume to my Shorter English Preludes (also for manuals only), this new set treats in similar fashion some tried-and-true general purpose hymns of German origin. Included are Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice, Jesus Lives and So Shall I, Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus, Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs, If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee, and All Glory Be to God on High. Each Prelude fits on one or two pages (no page turns required) and none is over two minutes in length. As always, sources and timings are included for your planning purposes and the score prints in landscape format.

Organ - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.836718

Composed by Brian Joyce. Christian,Contemporary,Sacred. Score. 15 pages. Brian Joyce #5749579. Published by Brian Joyce (A0.836718).

These eight Chorale Preludes were all written between March and May of 2020, during the worldwide Coronavirus Pandemic. Unlike the earlier companion volumes of shorter English and German preludes, which feature a variety of moods and themes, these American examples all seem to center around the closely related ideas of hope and quiet confidence. While this was not my intention back when I was choosing hymns to work with, I am pleased with the unity of the set. Taken as a whole, they are filled with tidings of comfort and joy.

Stylistically, the preludes range from the baroque bounce of Praise Him, Jesus Our Blessed Redeemer, through the sturdy On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand (with its chords sounding as if they had been carved from granite blocks) and a surprisingly delicate I Stand Amazed. There is a fair amount of canonic leading and following in He Leadeth Me; Great is Thy Faithfulness is the expressive heart of the set; and we end by returning to 18th century ritornello models with Blessed Assurance. Through it all I think I have managed to avoid any sense of academic stuffiness - in fact there are several moments which may sound almost playful if not handled rightly.

As with the Shorter English and German Preludes, most of these are between one and two minutes in length, and each fits on one or two pages, arranged so as to avoid page turns. As always, durations and sources are provided for your planning.

Organ - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.836714

Composed by Brian Joyce. 20th Century,Christian,Christmas,Sacred. Score. 8 pages. Brian Joyce #4805139. Published by Brian Joyce (A0.836714).

New for the 2019 Christmas Season, here is a Noël (a set of variations of a type popular in the French Baroque) on a somewhat less well known Advent Carol for manuals only.  

Venez, divin Messie (O Come Divine Messiah) is an anonymous 16th century tune to which Abbé Simon-Joseph Pellegrin added the words in the early 18th century. It is a charming melody and this new setting will provide organists with a little something beyond the ordinary Advent/Christmas fare.

Originally conceived for harpsichord, this piece easily makes the transition to organ manuals. Performance time is between 9 and 10 minutes depending largely on the acoustics of the room.

The attached audio file will tell you everything there is to say about the music. You will hear the entire tune plus the beginning and ending of each variation.

Organ - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.836713

Composed by Brian Joyce. 20th Century,Christian,Holiday,Sacred. Score. 9 pages. Brian Joyce #4776213. Published by Brian Joyce (A0.836713).

These are very early works, sins of my youth, as the saying goes. They are written in a faux-baroque style and would be very accessible to all but the fussiest congregations. The hymn tunes involved are (1) We Gather Together [KREMSER], (2) Come, Ye Thankful People [ST. GEORGE’S WINDSOR], and (3) Now Thank We All Our God [NUN DANKET]. They are especially appropriate for the Thanksgiving season, but would not be out of place at any time of the year. The third prelude gives the tune to a 4’ reed stop in the pedal.

Performance times: 0:45, 1:45, 1:25 (4 minutes for all).