RUBRICS for organ by Dan Locklair

RUBRICS (A Liturgical Suite for Organ) was a 1988 commission from the Organ Artists Series of Pittsburgh for their tenth anniversary year celebration. The extra-musical impetus and subsequent titles for each of the five movements of RUBRICS are found in the instructions (rubrics) to the services for “The Book of Common Prayer” (September 1979 edition). RUBRICS was given its World Premiere in Pittsburgh, PA at Calvary Episcopal Church on 16 April 1989 by the American organist, Mary Preston.
Peter Hardwick, writing in “The Diapason,” has called RUBRICS “one of the most frequently played organ works by an American composer.” Now a repertoire standard performed the world over, RUBRICS has been performed in recital and in services of worship. Appearing on numerous American and European commercial recordings, movements from RUBRICS have also been heard at a number of high profile occasions. These include the Washington National Cathedral funeral services of Presidents Ronald Reagan in 2004 and George H.W. Bush in 2018, as well as the January 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. service in that same venue during the Presidential Inauguration of President Barack Obama.
The energetic first movement, ["The ancient praise-shout,] 'Hallelujah,' has been restored...", calls upon the full resources of the organ. It is based on only four pitches: F, G, C, D. Dialogues in the manuals are heard throughout as the full pedal carries the primary melodic material of the movement.
The lyrical second movement, "Silence may be kept", highlights the flute stops of the organ. Centered on the note “F” and based on the Lydian mode (F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F), the movement alternates between reflective statements of the primary melody and the somewhat fleeting passages between two different flutes that present the same melodic material a half-beat apart. The resulting sound is that of a gentle, liquid echo.
The dance-like third movement,"...and thanksgivings may follow.", is a trumpet tune in the style of a trio (i.e. two separate manuals and pedal). It is based on only five pitches: A, B, C#, E, F#. Recitative-like sections regularly interrupt the on-going rhythm of the trumpet’s melody, eventually leading to a short two-voice trumpet cadenza that leads to the movement’s climax. Following the return of the trumpet tune, dialogues between the trumpet and the accompanying manual colors bring the movement to a jazzy close.
The lyrical fourth movement, "The Peace may be exchanged.", is an aria that features the unique sound of a solo diapason stop. It is richly accompanied by the ethereal sound of celeste strings, which are heard on a second manual that is also coupled to the pedal. Double pedaling appears throughout. Based on the D-Major scale (D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D), the deeply personal inspiration behind this movement was the radiance and goodness of my father, Archie Greer Locklair (1916-1986).
The vibrant fifth movement, "The people respond - Amen!", is a toccata. This energetic finale is primarily based on the transposition (Eb F, Ab, Bb) of the four pitches (F, G, C, D) that make up the first movement. Along with the primary pitch materials of the third movement (A, B, C#, E, F#), all twelve pitches of the chromatic scale are now fully represented as the power of full organ brings Rubrics to its joyous and exuberant conclusion.
This performance of RUBRICS is by the American organist, Marilyn Keiser, and is from her recording of on the Gothic label : “The Music of Dan Locklair.” (www.gothic-cat...)
RUBRICS is published by e.c. kerby, ltd./Ricordi (Hal Leonard, dist.). www.halleonard...