'An Endless Alleluia' rises to glory!

3 days ago

Following on from the continued success of our previous Organ Music competitions (details of which can be found at the bottom of this page), we are now delighted to announce the winners of our latest competition on the theme of 'Organ Music for the Easter Season' and would like to thank each and every person from around the globe who submitted an entry for your support and interest. The standard, as ever, was very high and our winning pieces (we hope you will agree) fit the brief of our theme perfectly! Alongside a couple of previous winners, we are delighted to welcome a trio of new winning composers to our catalogue!

Our outright winner claiming the cash prize, which is once again sponsored by our very generous sponsors, plus the added gift of a pair of Viscount Headphones, Aspire Classical Organs is:

'An Endless Alleluia', by Matthew Corl

We are delighted to welcome Matthew to our catalogue with his exuberant and joyous composition and we hope you will agree is very worthy winner! Matthew serves as Co-Director of Music/Organist at First United Methodist Church in Lakeland, FL and has played organ or directed choirs nearly every Sunday for 42 years. A native of Maryland, Matthew studied organ with Joan Lippincott at Westminster Choir College where he also received a scholarship for composition. Matthew also holds the Associate certificate from the American Guild of Organists. He has composed since his teens and has many published works for organ, piano and choir.

Matthew's composition was enthusiastically adjudged as follows...."The opening two bars, on the pedals, quote the final two bars of the tune, 'Easter Hymn (Jesus Christ is Risen Today)". The remainder of the piece presents a moto perpetuo apart from some of the mighty chords towards the end. A spectacular showpiece, which is probably only of moderate difficulty."

A few words from our winning composer, Matthew Corl:

"I'm surprised and thrilled to have won! Easter is a time of joy so I began with a joyous motive similar to pealing bells, and from there the music progressed to the tune EASTER HYMN. The toccata feel is continuous, so "An Endless Alleluia" seemed a fitting title. I hope everyone who plays and hears this piece finds the hope and joy of the risen Christ."

Here are a few words from our sponsors Aspire Classical Organs:

"As proud sponsors and supporters of the great work at Tim Knight Music, we have donated the prize money and bonus prize of a pair of headphones for the competition this year. We congratulate this year’s winner, Matthew Corl. Congratulations Matthew! Your prize and our Viscount Headphones will be with you shortly."

Here is a recording of the winning composition played by the Composer himself:

The other five winning entries (in the order they will appear in the publication) to be published with 'An Endless Alleluia' in the anthology are as follows:

'Meditation on Ellacombe' by Vidas Pinkevicious

We are thrilled that Vidas is once again amongst our winners. An international concert organist, composer and youtuber, Dr. Vidas Pinkevicius is the co-creator of the Secrets of Organ Playing - a blog, YouTube channel, podcast, and training site for thousands of organists from 89 countries. Together with his wife Dr. Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene, he is also Vilnius University organist and leads the university organ studio "Unda Maris". A prolific composer, Vidas has created close to 300 compositions. When not playing the organ, you will find him around old harmoniums and reed organs. The composer says of his piece: "This meditation is based on the hymn tune Ellacombe, often sung to the words 'Hosanna, Loud Hosanna' ... This composition will be very effective in liturgical and concert organ playing whenever contemplative music is desired. Dedicated to my wife Ausra".

'This Joyful Eastertide' by Annette Butters

We are also delighted to welcome back Annette to our winners' list! Annette is currently Director of Music and organist at St Mary's Parish Church Barnard Castle, County Durham in the UK (home to the church sponsored Community Choir and Community Orchestra). Annette says about her composition: "This Joyful Eastertide is based on the 17th Century Dutch melody which bursts with joy and excitement" and was adjudged to be "... as joyful as the title suggests".

'"Hymnopedie for Easter"' by Gay Anderson

We are very pleased to welcome the second new composer, Gay Anderson, to our catalogue. Gay is the organist/choirmaster for the Episcopal Parish of Alton, in Alton, Illinois, USA. She holds a Bachelor’s of Music Education degree with emphasis in piano performance, and a Master’s degree in Organ Performance. She is a former student of William Partridge (retired) Canon Precentor at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Gay's composition was adjudged as follows: "Much of the music of Easter is lively and extrovert, but there is also scope for music, such as this Hymnopedie, which is quiet and restrained. It presents three seasonal hymn tunes in a quiet waltz style which reflects the restraint of Satie's well-known piece."

'Christ, the Lord, Is Risen Today' by Pamela Robison

Pam completes the trio of our new composers who we welcome to our catalogue. Pam began playing for church on a pump organ in Nuneaton, England, and has been playing ever since. She has been a member of the organ staff at Community of Christ International Headquarters in Independence, Missouri, for over 50 years, providing music for demonstration recitals and services. She has a master’s degree in music composition from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri, and a master’s degree in religion from Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. Pam says about her composition: "Since Easter is a festival time, it seemed fitting to begin with a fanfare on the trumpets. I wanted the tune to be recognizable, but to also have an occasional unexpected turn."