Christmas Preludes and Fantasia (2021-22)
Organ solo
Five colourful organ preludes on Christmas melodies, followed by a joyful and upbeat Fantasia on five more seasonal favourites!
The five preludes are on The Angel Gabriel, Infant Holy, Whence is the goodly fragrance?, As with gladness men of old, and He is born.
The Fantasia links together Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Ding, dong, merrily on high, Away in a Manger, On Christmas Night all Christians Sing; and in the final section, Joy to the World is combined with a return of Hark the Herald Angels. A rousing finale to any Christmas service!
“The pieces are deftly written in the composer’s characteristically grateful idiom. None is immensely difficult, all can be managed on modest instruments, and they will provide a useful addition to the stock of versatile seasonal repertoire” – Stephen Farr, Choir and Organ magazine, September-October 2023.
“Together they make a fine group…all is unpretentious, of Grade 6 to 7 standard, well crafted, appealing, most refreshing, and useful for all congregations and audiences” – Michael Overbury, Organists’ Review magazine, November-December 2023.
This pdf gives a sample page of each movement: Christmas Preludes and Fantasia Extracts
Recordings by Steven Maxson on YouTube:
The Angel Gabriel
Infant Holy
Whence is that goodly fragrance?
As with gladness men of old
He is born
Christmas Fantasia
Published by Banks Music Publications