Music at WPC-
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Proper 22
Voluntary: Elegy George Thalben-Ball (1896-1987)
Offertory: Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun Eric Thiman (1900-1975)
Voluntary: Toccata from "Suite Gothique" Leon Bellman (1862-1897)
Hymns
Opening Hymn: 262- God of the Ages NATIONAL HYMN
Kyrie: 574 arr. David Johnson
Gloria Patri: 567 John Weaver
Sequence Hymn: 272- God of the Sparrow ROEDER
Closing Hymn: 446- Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken AUSTRIAN HYMN
Next Week's Music at WPC:
Sunday, October 4: Nik Stackpole, Organ; WPC Choir
Voluntary- About the Music
George Thalben-Ball’s Elegy is one of the most beloved works in the English organ repertoire, made especially remarkable by the fact that it began not as a written composition, but as an improvisation. During a BBC broadcast in 1944, Thalben-Ball, then organist of the Temple Church in London, improvised the piece as a solemn conclusion to the program. The music made such a strong impression that he was encouraged to preserve it, and he later reconstructed and wrote down the improvisation from memory, eventually publishing it as the Elegy. Its broad, expressive melody, rich harmonies, and gradual rise to a powerful climax retain the spontaneous quality of its origins, giving the work the feeling of music unfolding naturally in the moment. Today, the Elegy remains closely associated with Thalben-Ball and is a lasting example of the important tradition of organ improvisation.
Offertory- About the Composer
Eric Thiman (1900–1975) was an English composer, organist, and teacher whose music became especially well known in churches throughout Britain. Born in Ashford, Kent, Thiman developed a prolific career composing accessible and finely crafted works for organ, choir, and other ensembles, with much of his music intended for practical use in worship. He served for many years as organist of the City Temple in London and taught at the Royal Academy of Music and the University of London. Thiman’s compositions are generally characterized by clear melodies, traditional harmonies, and careful craftsmanship, reflecting the English church-music tradition of the early and mid-twentieth century. His organ works range from short voluntaries and hymn-based pieces to larger compositions, making his music particularly useful for worship while still offering plenty of musical interest for both performer and listener.
Voluntary- About the Music
Léon Boëllmann’s Suite Gothique, Op. 25, is one of the most enduring works of the French Romantic organ repertoire. Composed in 1895, the suite was written for the dedication of the new Jean-Baptiste Ghys organ at the Church of Notre-Dame in Dijon and consists of four contrasting movements: Introduction-Choral, Menuet Gothique, Prière à Notre-Dame, and the dramatic Toccata. The work combines the grandeur and rich sonorities of the French symphonic organ tradition with Boëllmann’s gift for memorable melodies and vivid contrasts. The gentle Prière à Notre-Dame provides a particularly expressive moment of reflection before the famous Toccata brings the suite to a thrilling conclusion with its driving rhythms, dark minor-key character, and powerful conclusion. Today, Suite Gothique remains Boëllmann’s best-known composition and a favorite of organists and audiences alike.