Fantasy on Terra Beata

Nashville native Craig Phillips has in recent years risen to the top as an organist and composer. His compositions are performed in concerts and church services all over the country as well as with major symphony orchestras. The tune TERRA BEATA, sometimes known as TERRA PATRIS, is best known as “This is my Father’s world.”

The piece begins with an opening flourish, which also makes various appearances throughout the piece and again at the end. My first impression was that the music had no relationship with the tune, but upon looking more in depth, I found that little snippets of the tune appear repeatedly throughout the work, and once I was aware of this, I was able to hear them.

There are several softer sections between the flourishes, where Phillips explores some of the colors of the organ. In these as well, Phillips almost never includes the tune as a whole entity, but plays whimsically with the rhythm and pitches to give an impression as though you recognize something that you can’t quite hear. In one of the soft sections near the end of the piece, a little triplet figure, like a birdcall, appears in the soprano line, while the pedal has the tune in the most complete form of the piece. In 3/4 time it requires an 8′ reed or principal in order to bring it out. In the next few pages the tune makes cameo appearances in various disguises as the music builds toward its final flourish.

The music is rather dissonant and of a moderate to difficult level. At seventeen pages it is probably too long and complicated for most church services, but would work well in recital.
The Diapason
July, 2011

This extended work takes the tune and puts it through its paces with fragmentations, ornamentation . . . showing Phillips’ flair for taking the mundane and turning it into something creative. The work is moderately difficult and requires an instrument of moderate tonal resources, but I think you’ll find this piece to be highly enjoyable as you learn it. Highly recommended.
Cross Accent
August 7, 2005