Wie soll ich dich empfangen

OMP260 Lance Eccles "Wie soll ich dich empfangen for recorder octet".

Johann Cruger was a 17th Century German composer who, despite the hardships of the 30 Years War, managed to write many church works; including the hymnal Praxis Pieatatis Melica, in which Wie soll ich dich empfagen can be found. "Ah! Lord how shall I meet Thee" is a Christina hymn for Advent. Lance Eccles (born 1944) has played recorders for many years, including for two decades in Sydney's Reluctant Consort. The prolific Australian composer has taken Cruger's melody as the basis of a double-choir composition, for two quartets: a high SATB and a low TBgBcB. While the piece starts with the two choirs doubling at the octave, it quickly spreads out into passages where the two choirs imitate or answer each other. Whith all parts in an octave-and-a-fifth range, and demanding not more than some eighth-note scales, this is a pleasant sounding piece at low intermediate level, suitable for any group that has a great bass and contra bass recorder for the low quartet. Running time is about 2'30". Typesetting is very clear, with each part fitting precisely on a single page.

Victor Eijkhout, American Recorder Fall 2021 Vol. LXII no.3