Oxford Hymn Settings for Organists: Pentecost and Trinity

Rebecca Groom te Velde earned degrees in organ performance from Seattle Pacific University and the University of Western Ontario, also studying composition and church music. She continued her studies in Germany on a grant from the German Academic Exchange Service. An active performer and clinician on service-playing, she holds the Associate Certificate from the American Guild of Organists. She has published organ music with Oxford University Press and Darcey Press and choral compositions with Santa Barbara Music Publishing. She is Director of Music and organist at First Presbyterian Church, Stillwater, Oklahoma.David Blackwell read music and studied the organ at Edinburgh University, where he gained his FRCO, and for many years worked in music publishing, becoming Head of Music Publishing at Oxford University Press. He has published anthems and carols with OUP, is co-editor of Carols for Choirs 5 (2011), and has published organ pieces in Oxford Service Music for Organ (OUP, 2010), compiled and edited by Anne Marsden Thomas. He is also co-writer of OUP's award-winning String Time books.

All of the works are eminently approachable and suitable for organists of varying ability, and equally suitable for liturgical and concert use. While these are all 20th or 21st century works there are no 'scary' modern pieces - they are all tonal, and are an even mix of contemplative works suitable for pre-service music or during communion and louder works suitable for voluntaries. In a collection like this you will usually find works that have been included merely to increase the page count, but I am happy to report that each of the works is well crafted and adds something of value to the whole. The hymns these are based on are a rich variety of traditional hymns, plainsong, spirituals and 20th century worship songs . . . This new book is a welcome addition to my organ music library and one that I am sure will be a worthwhile investment for musicians across the country.

• Allein Gott in der Hoh' ; Bridegroom ; Capetown ; Carlisle ; Charity ; Down Ampney ; Ev'ry time I feel the spirit ; Grosser Gott ; Halton Holgate ; Hereford ; Laus Deo (Redhead No. 46) ; Leoni ; Living God/Spirit of the living God ; Morecambe ; Moscow/Italian Hymn ; Nicaea ; O Waly Waly ; Open my eyes ; Shipston ; Spirit ; St Patrick's Breastplate ; They'll know we are Christians/St Brendan's ; Trentham ; Veni, Creator Spiritus (pre-service) ; Veni, Creator Spiritus (post-service) ; Veni, Sancte Spiritus ; Walk in the light