Augsburg Fortress

I sent Norma Aamodt-Nelson a quiet setting of WACHET AUF in late 2014, and she suggested adding pieces to form a collection centering around the Advent to Epiphany season. Most of the tunes I chose have “stars” in the title, there being few images more vibrant than those givers of light. Norma also mentioned that “The First Noel” could have a new setting, and the text of this carol fit in well with the idea of stars, or the star. I decided to give it a “slow waltz” tempo somewhat in the style of Erik Satie. The pieces vary from the exuberant “How Brightly Shines the Morning Star” to the quiet “Creator of the Stars” to the gospel hymn “Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown” to the rhythmic “In Thee Is Gladness” (my favorite, if a composer can have a favorite) for manuals alone, the more traditional “What Star Is This,” and the afore-mentioned WACHET AUF. In this collection as in all the others, I wish to present music that may be useful, particularly for organists who like to find repertoire that is “a bit different.”