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Dan Miller has been enthralling concert audiences with his touching and passionate rendition of “It is Well With My Soul.” Dan uses the moving hymn to portray the peaceful and exhilarating experience of the journey to heaven, using the many organ and orchestral tonal resources of the Rodgers® organ. Now he has recorded it onto a CD! |
Dan Miller, organist
This new CD contains the following selections:
| 1. We Thank Thee, Lord, from Sinfonia No. 29 | Bach | 3:51 |
| 2. Let There Be Light | Dubois | 4:20 |
| 3. Fantasia & Fugue in g minor | Bach | 10:46 |
| 4. Meditation on ‘Holy God, We Praise Thy Name’ | arr. Dan Miller | 8:23 |
| 5. Largo | Handel, arr. Dan Miller | 5:13 |
| 6. Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Awake for night is flying) | Bach | 6:16 |
| 7. Rigaudon | Campra, arr. Dan Miller | 2:49 |
| 8. It is Well With My Soul | Bliss, arr. Dan Miller | 7:21 |
| 9. Wir eilen mit schwachen, duet from Cantata No. 78 (We hasten with eager yet faltering footsteps) | Bach | 4:56 |
| 10. Kyrie Eleison, from Messe Solonelle | Vierne, arr. Dan Miller | 6:53 |
| 11. Under the Double Eagle | Wagner, arr. Dan Miller | 3:59 |
| Click here to order this CD | Information about the organ | Acknowledgements |
| Comments from Dan | Photo of the organ | Notes on the selections |
| Stoplist of the organ | ||
Dan Miller’s newest CD, It is Well With My Soul, was recorded in January 2003 at Arcadia Presbyterian Church, Arcadia, California, on the church’s Rodgers Trillium 967 organ. Pipe and digitally sampled pipe stops, orchestral instruments, and choral voices are resident within the Rodgers Trillium 967 of Arcadia Presbyterian Church. Some additional voices were drawn from the Roland SC-8820 sound module, connected via MIDI to the organ console and played from the organ keyboards and pedalboard. Total resources available for this recording: Organ: 152 stops, 26 pipe ranks. SC-8820: 1,608 tone names.
Arcadia Presbyterian Church, 121 Alice St., Arcadia, CA www.arcadiapres.org
Gary Kibble, organist
Joe Bellamy / Peace in the Valley Recordings, Recording Engineer
Mark Austin, organ curator
Robert Tall and Associates, installation www.tallassociates.com
Manuel Rosales, pipe voicing
Robert Tall, Larry Hawkins, and Mark Austin, digital voicing
This CD project was recorded on January 19, 2003, a sunny and warm California Sunday afternoon. This recording has no audio editing of room noises or compression of sound. What you hear is what I heard during the recording session! At times you may hear some bumps or clunks – the organ’s shutters in front of the Swell and Choir divisions sometimes added some percussive surprises while opening or closing the shades for expression. Also, at some points of the recording you will hear the room ambience, which isn’t totally quiet. The church agreed to shut off the air-conditioning for the recording session, but the custodian mistakenly turned the ventilation to heat rather than off! (All efforts were made to shut off the ventilation, but to no avail. I decided to go ahead with the recording session because of the recording engineer’s commitment, and my schedule – I had to catch a plane!) You can hear the result on the CD – the ventilation blower noise, and the pipes gradually going out of tune due to the heat!
Q: Is that Arcadia Presbyterian Church in the CD cover photo?
A: No, but it is a beautiful photo, supplied by the CD manufacturer. A photo of the church sanctuary and organ is on the inside cover of the CD, and also shown here:
1. We Thank Thee Lord, We Thank Thee – J. S. Bach
Public Domain
The CD opens with a rousing celebration of praise and thanksgiving, from Bach’s Sinfonia in D Major, from Cantata No. 29. This work is for organ, strings, brass, and timpani – which I played from the organ keyboards!
2. Let There Be Light! – Theodore Dubois
Public Domain
This festive piece, Fiat Lux (Let There Be Light), is number 8 from the Dubois organ collection Douze Pièces Nouvelles. As you can hear, it begins with an organ registration of soft stops, which gradually build to full organ in a brief time of approximately 4 minutes! Clément Francois Théodore Dubois (1837-1924) was a prominent French organist and organ composer. He was the choral conductor at St. Clothilde in 1861, and in 1877 he succeeded Camille Saint-Saëns as organist of the Madeleine Church in Paris.
3. Fantasia and Fugue in g minor – J. S. Bach
Public Domain
This is one (really, two!) of Bach’s finest works for organ, BWV 542, composed in 1708. The Fantasia is characterized by free-form rhapsodic chromatic flourishes, which alternate with contrasting polyphonic sections. The vigorous fugue, based on an old Dutch folk song, was called "Bach's best organ fugue with pedals" in the first J.S. Bach biography, written by Johann Nikolaus Forkel in 1802.
4. Meditation on ‘Holy God, We Praise Thy Name’ – arr. Dan Miller
NOW IN PRINT: Click here to order the sheet music for this arrangement as played by Dan on this CD
Holy God, we praise Thy name; Lord of all, we bow before Thee;
All on earth Thy scepter claim, All in heav’n above adore Thee.
Infinite Thy vast domain, Everlasting is Thy reign.
Hark, the loud celestial hymn Angel choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and seraphim In unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heav’ns with sweet accord: Holy, holy, holy Lord.
This improvisation "began its life" several years ago as one of the Demo Songs I created for all Rodgers T-957 and T-967 organs. My favorite stop, the incredibly beautiful Orchestral Oboe, was my inspiration for the introductory meditation, and the rest of the arrangement just flowed from my heart. (Please read or re-read the lyrics of this great hymn above!) This improvisation shows how beautifully an organ can convey awe, reverence, and worship.
5. Largo, from Xerxes – G. F. Handel, arr. Dan Miller
Public Domain
The well-known, majestic "Largo" is an aria from Handel’s opera Xerxes, written in 1738.
6. Wachet Auf, ruft uns die Stimme – J.S. Bach
Public Domain
Wake, awake, for night is flying; The watchmen on the heights are
crying: Awake, Jerusalem, at last!
Midnight hears the welcome voices And at the thrilling cry rejoices; Come
forth, ye virgins, night is past;
The Bridegroom comes, awake; Your lamps with gladness take;
Alleluia! And for His marriage feast prepare For ye must go and meet Him
there.
Zion hears the watchmen singing, And all her heart with joy is
springing; She wakes, she rises from her gloom;
For her Lord comes down all glorious, The strong in grace, in truth
victorious. Her Star is risen, her Light is come.
Ah come, Thou blessèd One, God’s own belovèd Son:
Alleluia! We follow till the halls we see Where Thou hast bid us sup with
Thee.
Now let all the heavens adore Thee, And saints and angels sing before
Thee, With harp and cymbal’s clearest tone;
Of one pearl each shining portal, Where we are with the choir immortal Of
angels round Thy dazzling throne;
Nor eye hath seen, nor ear hath yet attained to hear What there is ours, but
we rejoice and sing to Thee
Our hymn of joy eternally.
Arranged by Bach as an organ solo from his Cantata No. 140 for choir and chamber orchestra, the melody is based on a hymn by Philipp Nicolai. Bach wrote this cantata for the 27th Sunday after Trinity, which is the first week of Advent.
7. Rigaudon – Campra, arr. Dan Miller
Public Domain
Well-known as a grand march for wedding, worship, or concert, this composition by Andre Campra (1660-1744) has been recorded by organists, brass groups, handbells, solo instruments, and full orchestras. The grandeur of the organ is displayed, and I selected some Renaissance era instruments too!
8. It is Well With My Soul – arr. Dan Miller
NOW IN PRINT: Click here to order the sheet music for this arrangement as played by Dan on this CD
When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea-billows
roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, "It is well, it is well with
my soul."
And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled
back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, "Even so" – it is well
with my soul.
This well-loved hymn, written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873, is cherished by many as a song of peace and consolation at a memorial service. This arrangement has become my "signature piece," which I play at every concert since its first presentation in March, 2000 at Willowbrook United Methodist Church, in Sun City, AZ, dedicated in honor of the Organ’s memorial donor family.
With this arrangement, allow me to portray the Christian believer’s experience of his/her journey to heaven. Yes, it is peaceful. Our earthly pains, worries, cares and concerns are gone. We hear the angels welcoming us to heaven. We hear the trumpet call of God. We experience heaven’s joy and celebration, and we meet Jesus face to face. We are at peace!
9. Wir Eilen Mit Schwachen – J. S. Bach
Public Domain
| Wir eilen
mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten O Jesu, o Meister, zu helfen du zir. Du suchest die Kranken und Irrenden treulich. Ach! höre, wie die Stimme erheben, um Hülfe zu bitten. Es sei uns dein gnädiges Antlitz erfreulich. |
We hasten with
eager yet faltering footsteps, O Jesus, O Master, for help unto Thee. Thou faithfully seekest the ill and the erring. Ah, hear us, we pray. Our voices exalt Thee, for succor we pray Thee. Now grant us Thy gracious and merciful favor. |
A soprano duet from Cantata No. 78 (Jesu der du meine Seele), the running eighth notes in the left hand of the accompaniment provide the drive for the text’s "hastening with eager yet faltering footsteps."
10. Kyrie Eleison, from Messe Solennelle in C# minor – Louis Vierne
Public Domain
Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison
Kyrie eleison.
Written for two organs and choir, Kyrie Eleison is the first movement of Messe Solennelle. Louis Vierne (1870-1937), the great French organist, was a student of César Franck and CharlesMarie Widor at the Paris Conservatory, where he won first prize for organ playing. In 1892 Vierne became Widor's assistant at St. Sulpice; in 1900 he was appointed organist at the cathedral of Notre Dame. Among Vierne's American organ students was Alexander Schreiner, famed organist at the Mormon Tabernacle. Vierne died at the organ console while performing a concert in Notre Dame.
11. Under the Double Eagle – Wagner, arr. Dan Miller
Public Domain
This great march sometimes is mistakenly attributed to the great John Philip Sousa, but it was written by Josef Franz Wagner in 1903 for marching band. Wagner (1856-1908) used to be called the "Austrian March King". The title refers to the double eagle in the coat of arms of the Austro-Hungarian double monarchy. The march became very popular – it was recorded three times by the Sousa’s band before Wagner’s death. It became the official regimental march of the 1st Austrian Artillery Regiment Number 2.
We hear the Rodgers Trillium 967 converted to a theater organ for this rousing march!
Stoplist of the Arcadia Presbyterian Church organ
| Great Organ Montre 16' Violone 16' Bourdon 16' Principal 8' Diapason 8' Prinzipal 8' Flute Harmonique 8' Rohrfloete 8' Chimney Flute 8' Gemshorn 8' Octave 4' Principal 4' Oktav 4' Spitzfloete 4' Quinte 2-2/3' Super Octave 2' Fifteenth 2' Waldfloete 2' Terz 1-3/5' Fourniture IV Scharf IV Posaune 16' Double Trumpet 16' Trompete 8' Trumpet 8' Chimes Harpsichord Handbells Zimbelstern Tremulant Swell to Great 16' Swell to Great 8' Swell to Great 4' Choir to Great 16', Choir to Great 8' Choir to Great 4' Great MlDl A Great MIDI B Choir Organ Quintade 16' Erzaehler 16' Spitz Geigen 8' English Diapason 8' Holzgedackt 8' Concert Flute 8' Erzaehler Celeste II 8' SATB Ah SATB Oo Viola Celeste II 8' Prinzipal 4' Fugara 4' Koppelfloete 4' Flute d'Amour 4' Oktav 2' Zauberfloete 2' Larigot 1-1/3' Sesquialtera II Siffloete 1' Jeu de Clochette II Mixture IV Rauschquinte IV Dulzian 16' Rankett 16' Corno di Bassetto 16' Trompette Harmonique 8' Cromorne 8' French Horn 8' Festival Trumpet 8' Tuba 8' Harp Tremulant Choir Unison Off Choir to Choir 16' Choir to Choir 4' Swell to Choir 16' Swell to Choir 8' Swell to Choir 4' Choir MIDI A Choir MIDI B |
Swell Organ Bourdon Doux 16' Contre Gambe 16' Geigen Principal 8' Geigen Diapason 8' Bourdon 8' Flute Harmonique 8' Tibia 8' Viole de Gambe 8' Gambe Celeste 8' Flute Celeste II 8' Prestant 4' Unda Maris II 4' Flauto Traverso 4' Nazard 2-2/3' Flute a Bec 2' Tierce 1-3/5' Cymbale III Plein Jeu IV Contre Trompette 16' Double Trumpet 16' Basson 16' Trompette 8' Trumpet 8' Hautbois 8' Hautbois mf 8' Voix Humaine 8' Vox Humana 8' Strings Slow Strings Clairon 4' Clarion 4' Tremulant Swell Unison Off Swell to Swell 16' Swell to Swell 4' Choir to Swell 8' Swell MIDI A Swell MIDI B Solo Organ Violoncello Celeste II 8' Strings Slow Strings Amens/Alleluias Flauto Mirabilis 8' Brass Boychoir Ah Soprano Ah Harmonic Flute 4' SATB Ah SATB Oo Gospel Oh French Horn 8' Handbells Festival Trumpet 8' Tuba 8' English Horn 8' Orchestral Oboe Harpsichord Gregorian Oh Tremulant Solo on II Solo on I Pedal Organ Contre Violone 32' |