Partita on Beach Spring
William Bradley Roberts

Review
"A Partita and new harmonization of BEACH SPRING paired with the text 'Where Is This Stupendous Stranger' was commissioned for the 2021 dedication of the new Harrison and Harrison organ at Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia. Many early American hymns lend themselves to canonic treatment. Roberts' harmonization incorporates a canon in the tenor at the distance of one measure and suggests performance in canon for stanza two. This harmonization is also printed separately (without text) on three staves to aid organists in soloing out the left hand. An inventive and unusual set of variations follows, starting with a marked and vigorous 'Clog Dance' in triple meter and followed by a 'Trio Barocco,' an ornamented chorale with an accompaniment of triplets and an active bass line. Despite the texture and title, it sounds like a modern piece, not an old one. The following movements are a 'Jazz Chorale,' meditative and serene with poignant harmonies, and a scherzo-like 'Fife Tune.' That movement and the final 'Fanfare and Toccata' carry over some of the Jazz-inflected sensibilities of the middle movement within a diatonic context. Apart from a brief excursion to C-minor in the mixed-meter fanfare, the finale stays in the home key of F major throughout. The toccata is brilliant without being too difficult, and the coda brings back the fanfare theme and pushes the tempo to an exciting conclusion, recalling Gerre Hancock's improvisations in the final approach to an added-note choir over an incipit of the tune. This is a lively and appealing recital piece to demonstrate the colors of an organ of any size, which I believe was the intention." --AAM Journal, May/June 2023