Coming Soon: Organ Improvisations from the Trinity Psalter Hymnal

UPDATE: The album is now available in CD and MP3 form from Reformed Fellowship.

Recently I had the opportunity to record an album of organ improvisations from the Trinity Psalter Hymnal in one of Pittsburgh’s most marvelous acoustic spaces: Epiphany Roman Catholic Church. I chose 20 tunes from the songbook, representing a mixture of old and new favorites, both psalms and hymns. The Luley organ, with parts dating back to 1902, has a resonant sound with incredible reed and string stops. The improvisations include a variety of styles generally inspired by the Dutch school of sacred organ music.

The URCNA’s Synod Niagara 2022 requested the Trinity Psalter Hymnal Joint Venture to commission official choral recordings of psalms from the new book. Instrumental music was not mentioned in that decision, but I can envision many scenarios in which a solo organ album could be useful and enjoyable:

• Special events held at venues without an organ, such as weddings, graduation ceremonies, etc.
• Meditative prelude and postlude music for churches without an organ/organist
• Background music for Christian ministries, organizations, and retirement communities
• Personal enjoyment

You can listen to some samples here:

22C. Amid the Thronging Worshipers

33. With Joy Let Us Sing to the Lord

119A. How Blessed Are Those Upright in Their Way

389. Great God, What Do I See and Hear!

The album will be released digitally in early 2024. If you would like to preorder a CD copy, please visit this page. I am thankful to the members of the Joint Venture Committee and many others for encouraging me to take on this project, and I hope it will be a blessing!

–MRK