An Evocation of Urbs beata Jerusalem

Paraclete Press recently made available this previously unpublished work by Gerre Hancock, written for Allen Shaffer’s twentieth anniversary as Director of Music at Christ and Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk, Va. An Evocation of “Urbs beata Jerusalem,” composed in 2009, is a lovely interpolation prelude on the strong plainsong melody URBS BEATA JERUSALEM, no. 519 in The Hymnal 1982 and the basis of Edward C. Bairstow’s anthem Blessed City, Heavenly Salem. Interpolation preludes divide each phrase of the tune with interludes that are typically thematically related. In this example, the stately interludes are filled with warm harmonies and built around a falling minor third. The introduction and first interlude begin in the home key, but subsequent interludes start one step higher each time. The moving figures in the accompaniment are based on sixths, and the harmony is consistent with other works by Hancock. In addition to the rising pitch-levels of the interludes, faster motion becomes more prominent as the piece progresses and leads to a grand climax over rising thirds in the pedal. The registration returns to a quiet reed solo with accompaniment for the last phrase of the plainsong melody and the prelude ends peacefully on an unadorned major chord, a rarity in Hancock’s oeuvre. Unusually in this piece Hancock asks for a different solo reed color for each phrase of the plainsong melody. I know many readers would enjoy playing this elegant prelude, and I hope you will support Paraclete Press in its publication of much of Hancock’s music.
Brian Harlow, The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians
February 2017