Edmundson Toccata 'Vom Himmel Hoch'

Roger Sayer plays Edmundson's Toccata on 'Vom Himmel Hoch'.

Garth Edmundson (1892-1971) was an American organist, composer, teacher and music director. He studied music in Pittsburgh, New York, London, Paris, and at the Leipzig Conservatory, and went on to work as an organist, music teacher, and director of music in several churches and schools in western Pennsylvania. He composed hundreds of compositions for organ, including this Toccata on Vom Himmel Hoch (From Heaven Above to Earth I Come) based on a hymn written by Martin Luther in 1534. The hymn is most often sung to ‘Zahn No. 346’, a melody which has been referenced by several other composers in their Advent and Christmas works including Bach, Pachelbel, Praetorius, Mendelssohn, Reger, Karg-Elert, and Stravinsky.

Sound editing: D. Hinitt
Video editing: R. Vinter

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Thank you!

[Aly-zdcp]

You good sir are a gem. Merry Christmas 😊

[eanreeys]

magnificent performance
your interpretation and choice of stops in the different sections are excellent