Lord, I Want to Be a Christian - Calvin Taylor

Описание: Dr. Calvin Taylor is a well-known contemporary African-American organist, pianist, and composer who travels and concertizes widely in order to share his music with as many people as possible. He recently completed "Spiritual Meditations," his third volume of organ compositions based upon spirituals. It is dedicated to his long-time friend and colleague Michael Barone, producer of National Public Radio's syndicated program "Pipedreams."

"Lord, I Want to Be a Christian" is the fourth of nine pieces in the collection. Like many of Dr. Taylor's spiritual settings it begins quietly in a meditative fashion with a free introduction introducing the melody. An extended buildup leads to its powerful climax before it gradually fades away.

Dr. Taylor's organ works are a unique synthesis of the baroque-style chorale prelude with the harmonic languages of jazz and gospel music. Of them, Dr Taylor writes, "While the spirituals are well known as a vocal medium and were popularized as such around the world, their inherent melodic beauty transfers naturally to the King of Instruments."

This was recorded on July 28, 2024. It was the very last piece of music I played on the Old South organ as a member of the staff and something I will forever associate with the conclusion of my 19 years of ministry there. My deepest thanks to Dr. Taylor for all of his support and feedback as I learned and recorded his works.

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