Composer John Weaver
Released 10/2020
Use Instrumental
Difficulty Moderately diff.
Catalog no. 160-958
Price $19.50 (U.S.)

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Description
Includes rewarding and useful settings of three familiar early American tunes, WONDROUS LOVE, LAND OF REST, and FOUNDATION. These pieces were featured at the online AGO Organfest 2020, performed by the Rodland Duo. The set was commissioned by Catherine, Carol, & Joanne Rodland for the Rodland Duo, in memory of The Rev. John R. Rodland.

Review
"These three practical settings for organ and viola were commissioned by the Rodland family and featured at the online AGO Organfest 2020. The set begins with the most straightforward and diatonic of the group, a gentle setting of WONDROUS LOVE that begins with the solo viola, moves into a canon at the fifth with a contrapuntal third voice, and finally moves to a more rhapsodic, decorated melody. The pentatonic nature of these melodies lends itself well to canon, and Weaver takes full advantage of that in the second of the set, LAND OF REST, which features both two and three-part canons. The development section has a bluesy inflection because of many flatted notes and false relations between the instruments. The final setting of FOUNDATION has an active and creative accompaniment, at times recalling Weaver's early Toccata for Organ. Although written in common meter, the constant triplet rhythm gives the feel of 12/8 and drives the piece to an exciting conclusion. These settings would be relatively easy to put together and enjoyable for listeners, whether performed as a set in recital (approximately 7 minutes) or as voluntaries." --AAM Journal, March/April 2023