Fantasy on an American Hymn Tune, Op.70 (Leighton)
Movements
Notes
This work was composed during the summer of 1974 and commissioned by Gervase de Peyer, William Pleeth and Peter Wallfisch with funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain. The famous and emotive hymn At the River was composed (both words and music) in 1865 by the Rev. Robert Lowry and it plays an important part in Symphony No. 2 Op. 69. It has attracted the attention of a number of composers and is one of the most perfect examples of the union of words and music. The tune revolves for the most part round the mediant, and it is only at the very end on the word “God” that it descends to the tonic. Thus this fantasy begins and ends with the tonic chord (here the chord of C major) and at various other points the music resolves on to the same chord.
