• Date: 1898
• Main Performer: Charles Ives
• Genre: Keyboard
• Period: Modern (1870-)

Review

Composed in 1898, this remarkable work is apparently one of those legendary and infamous festival arrangements that Ives created while serving as a church organist in New Haven, Connecticut, during his student days. At the onset a drone consisting of a low pedal tone and a high chord is held, unchanging, while a beautiful melody in simple durations is played with it (this work is perhaps a study for his famous piece "The Unanswered Question" which it resembles structurally). Halfway through the piece, the upper chord descends in non-chordal tones (complex overtones), and "Adeste Fideles" (for some reason or other, misspelled by Ives) is introduced in a dissonant harmonization (whole tone scales against the traditional melody). The melody disappears and we are left with a movement of quiet, complex harmonies as if the musical thought has disappeared into the vast universe - a deeply religious insight. ~ All Music Guide

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title	Date
Organ Music from the U. S. A.	1991
Noëls
Christmas Around the World: Favorite Carols from Many Nations