1 Item Set or Lot of "O PERFECT LOVE", by Mrs. Dorothy Frances Gurney and Healey Willan; Sheet Music. Includes:
ITEM 1.) Mrs. Dorothy Frances Gurney, Healey Willan; O PERFECT LOVE; Sacred Song Sheet Music; Organ / Voice; Complete Sheet Music; 1883 (vocals); H. W. Gray, Inc. #????;
Small Format;
English throughout;
Front Cover Artwork featuring a church tower;
Low Voice, Key of C (c to d);
Preprinted Cover Price of $ .75;
Inside Front Cover is first page of music;
No Title Page or Table of Contents;
O Perfect Love, Sacred Song For Low Voice; Words by Mrs. Dorothy Frances Gurney, 1883; Set to Music by Healey Willan;
Treble (Voice and Organ) and Bass (Organ) Clef;
1 Tune Total;
5 Pages of Music; With Lyrics;
Inside Rear Cover has list of Sacred Songs;
Rear Cover has continuation of list for "Sacred Songs";
Folded Panel Format;
Published by H. W. Gray Co., Inc.; New York, New York; Copyright 1933, 1961;
Condition Good for very age and the fact that it was "on display" for some time; Covers May Show Storage Wear; Pages Clean, Tight and Unmarked;
NOTE: Other editions available including those with music by other artists for voice, piano and organ;
The primary item was part of the collection of Henry J. Hauschild Jr., who billed himself as a “Physiognomist – Bibliopolist – Cognoscente di Eccellentissimoâ€, and was the very proud owner of the world famous "Nose Gallery†at “The Oldest House†in Victoria, Texas. Henry Senior founded the Hauschild Music Company which was later owned by his 8 children and eventually the four brothers before being closed in 1980; After the Opera House Restaurant failed, the space became the Bible Book Store and later Opera House Antiques; This item was mixed with the leftover inventory of the Music Store and at one time was on consignment at the Bible Book Store;
"Musicologist and historian, Delmer Rogers, longtime member of the staff of the Department of Music at the University of Texas, is of the opinion that the Hauschild Music Company, founded in Victoria, Texas in 1891, was the second oldest institution to commercially publish sheet music in Texas. (Thos. Goggan of Houston being the first.) Also, his extensive research indicates that Hauschild's was the first in Texas to issues music with Spanish titles. About thirty were published, many by talented writers, and sold in large numbers. In addition, probing seems to prove that Hauschilds was the first to publish the efforts of several of the music-loving Germans of the area. Most interesting, too, is that the spritely composition, the Cowboy Rag offered in 1904 possibly was the purcursor of this genre of popular music." taken from "The Cognoscenti Collections";
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HISTORICAL NOTE: "THIS PIECE IS OFTEN CONSIDERED TO BE WEDDING MUSIC !!!";
HISTORICAL NOTE: "O Perfect Love, a Wedding Hymn. Sacred Wedding Song by Dorothy Gurney, Composed by Joseph Barnby. "O Perfect Love" is a solemn Christian wedding music, lyrics by writer Dorothy Gurney & composer Joseph Barnby, with two tune names "O Perfect Love" and "Sandringham." The wedding hymn "O Perfect Love" was written in 1883 by an English writer, Dorothy B. Gurney, who wrote only this one hymn text throughout her lifetime. She wrote this for her older sister's wedding. Gurney stated that writing this hymn was no effort after the initial idea came to her from the two-fold aspect of perfect union – love & life – & that she always felt God helped her write it. The text 1st appeared in the Anglican Church hymnal, Hymns Ancient & Modern, Supplement, published in 1889. The Sacred Song 'O Perfect Love'; Dorothy Gurney was visiting her soon-to-be married sister in the lovely, English Lake region of Windermere, the land of William Wordsworth, when her sister complained that for her forthcoming wedding, she could not find appropriate words for one of her favorite hymn tunes "Strength & Stay" by John B. Dykes. Apparently, her sister challenged her in a way that since she writes poetry, she can write new words to the same tune of "Strength & Stay." Gurney went to the library & in about 15 minutes came back with the text, "O Perfect Love." Her sister was pleased & asked it to be sung on her wedding. Since then, it has been sung in many London weddings, & eventually, found its way into the hymnals. Text Writer Dorothy B. Gurney: Dorothy Frances Blomfield Gurney (1858-1932) was born on October 4, 1858, in London England. She grew up in a devout Anglican Church parsonage. Her father, Rev. Frederick G. Blomfield, was rector of a London parish, while her grandfather had been a distinguished bishop of London. She displayed literary gifts early on. She wrote two volumes of verse as well as a devotional work title A Little Book of Quiet. One of her best known poems is "God's Garden." Dorothy married Gerald Gurney, a former actor who became an ordained minister in the Anglican Church. Composer Sir Joseph Barnby: Joseph Barnby (1839-1896), one of England's distinguished church musicians of the 19th century, composed the tune, known in hymnals as either "O Perfect Love" or "Sandringham." His church choirs in London were widely known for their excellence. He began the annual singing festivals of JS Bach's passion music at St. Ann's Soho Church. He wrote some 246 hymn tunes, composed an oratorio & numerous liturgical anthems. He was knighted by the Queen of England for his numerous musical contributions. Barnby composed a special anthem based on Dorothy Gurney's text for the marriage ceremony of the Duke & Duchess of Fife. The present hymn tune is an adaptation from that anthem.";
HISTORICAL NOTE: "Dorothy Frances Gurney (October 4, 1858 – June 15, 1932) was an English poet & hymnwriter. Though both her father & husband were Anglican priests, Mrs. Gurney became a Roman Catholic (as did her husband) in 1919. The last verse of her best-known poem, "God's Garden" is seen everywhere on signs, plaques & other garden ornaments, but few people know its author. “Originally written in Lord Ronald Gower’s visitor’s book. It was inspired by his exquisite garden at Hammerfield Penshurst.†From a copy handwritten in England on an envelope circa 1925, & found in a book on the Church of England’s Liberal Evangelicals in 2010. The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God's Heart in a garden Than anywhere else on Earth. "God's Garden" lines 13–16, Poems, by Dorothy Frances Gurney (London: Country Life, 1913).";
HISTORICAL NOTE: "Healey Willan, CC (12 October 1880 in Balham, London - 16 February 1968 in Toronto, Ontario) was an Anglo-Canadian organist & composer. He composed more than 800 works including operas, symphonies, chamber music, a concerto, & pieces for band, orchestra, organ, & piano. He is best known for his religious music. Willan was born in England, & he began musical training at age eight, with studies at St. Saviour's Choir School in Eastbourne. He continued at St. Saviour's until 1895, when he began working as organist & choirmaster at several London-area groups. He was admitted to the Royal College of Organists in 1897 (Associate) & in 1899 was made Fellow. In 1903 he became the organist & choirmaster of St. John the Baptist Church on Holland Road in London. He became a member of the London Gregorian Association (a society to preserve & revive "plain-chant") in 1910. He continued at St. John the Baptist Church until 1913, when he emigrated to Canada. In 1920 Willan moved to Toronto to assume the title of Head of the Theory Department of the Toronto Conservatory of Music (now the Royal Conservatory of Music), of which he was advanced to Vice-Principal. He remained as Vice-Principal until 1936. Among his notable pupils were pianist Howard Brown, tenor Gordon Wry, & composers Patricia Blomfield Holt, Walter MacNutt, & Kenneth Peacock. In addition to his duties at the Toronto Conservatory, Willan became organist & choirmaster at the church of St. Paul's, Bloor Street. In 1914 he was named Lecturer & Examiner at the University of Toronto. In 1921 he was named as Precentor of the church of St. Mary Magdalene, Toronto, which became a mecca for church musicians (he retained that title until his death). In 1934 he founded the Tudor Singers, which he conducted until 1939 (when it disbanded). In 1937 he was appointed Professor of Music at the University of Toronto, which post he retained until his 1950 retirement; he also served as organist for the University. In 1956 Willan received the Lambeth Doctorate, Mus. D Cantaur from the Archbishop of Canterbury. Willan was made a Companion of the Order of Canada at its inception in 1967. He is frequently called "the Dean of Canadian composers." While serving as the organist and choirmaster at St. Paul's Bloor Street, Willan became interested in the music program at another Anglican church, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. St. Paul's was an evangelical, low church; St. Mary Magdalene's, while much smaller, was notably high church or Anglo-Catholic. By 1920 Willan was assisting with choir practice. In 1921 he resigned his post at St. Paul's & turned his attention to St. Mary Magdalene's. He set about creating a great many liturgical works for use in the church's services. He remained at St. Mary Magdalene's until shortly before his death, last directing the choir in 1967. Willan composed some 800 musical pieces, the majority sacred works for choir such as anthems, hymns & mass settings. His non-sacred opus includes some 50 choral works, 100 song arrangements for voice with piano accompaniment, many works for piano solo, for voice with instrumental accompaniment, two symphonies, a piano concerto, chamber works, incidental music for stage works, ballad operas, & at least one important opera (Deirdre). In 1953 Willan received a commission to write an anthem for the coronation of Elizabeth II. The resulting anthem, O Lord Our Governour, continues to be frequently performed. Willan’s considerable output includes orchestral, choral, organ & piano, & chamber works, as well as music for plays & one opera. He is best known for his organ & sacred works, which show evidence of his love for plainsong & Renaissance music. For example, many of his liturgical compositions are based on church modes that date back 500 years. Also, his vocal lines are more melismatic & his style more contrapuntal & rhythmically free than those of his contemporaries. Willan’s larger choral works, however, were very Romantic in nature. His rich harmonic palette & luxuriant, soaring melodies stand as testament to his admiration of both Brahms & Wagner. His music represents a unique & beautiful combination of styles: both an homage to the sacred music of five centuries ago & a reflection of the innovations of the Romantic/post-Romantic period in which he lived. People who remember Willan from his time at St Mary Magdalene's like to moderate his somewhat dourly pious public image by quoting him—it was a mainstay of concert talks by Robert Hunter Bell—as to his provenance: "English by birth; Canadian by adoption; Irish by extraction; Scotch by absorption." Introduction, Passacaglia & Fugue in E flat minor (1916); Passcaglia & Fugue; Epilogue. Operas: L'Ordre du bon temps (1928); Prince Charlie & Flora (1929); The Ayrshire Ploughman (?); Maureen [lost]; Indian Christmas Play [lost]; Transit through Fire (1942, written for Canadian Radio); Deirdre (1946, written for Canadian Radio, revised for stage in 1965).";
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