O Thou, Before the World Began

The first two phrases of the hymn tune are paraphrased in the first eight measures of this piece and expanded on in the next eight measures. The next two phrases of the tune are quoted nearly verbatim in the upper voice in the next eight measures and repeated in a different key a…

This piece will be most effective with judicious use of the swell pedal (suggested markings and possibly more) and subtle variations in tempo (see measures 25, 33, and 45). Be especially sensitive to harmonic surprises in the sixteen measures beginning with measure 45, the transi…