Robert Hebble Explained

Robert Hebble, born in 1934, was an American composer, arranger, and organist.^[1] He worked as a voluntary assistant to the organist Virgil Fox.^[2] He died on February 17, 2020.^[3]

Life

The son of Christian and Elizabeth Hebble, Robert Hebble grew up in West Orange, New Jersey and was a graduate of West Orange High School, earned a bachelor of music degree from Yale University and a master's degree from the Juilliard School, where he studied with Vittorio Giannini and Roger Sessions.^[4] He has composed in various genres, and arranged many of the pieces recorded by Virgil Fox.

Works

Organ music

Original compositions

• A Symphony of Light
• Haec Dies Resurgam
• Festival Fanfare (published by H.T. FitzSimons Company)
• Rejoice ! 14 Improvisations on Hymn Melodies
  • Toccatino on Rico Tino (based on "Festal song")
• Near the cross (published by Lorenz Publishing Company)
  • Ah, Holy Jesus
  • In the cross of Christ I glory (tune Herzliebster Jesu)
  • Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross (tune Near the cross)
  • My song is love unknown (tune Rhosymedre)
  • What Wondrous Love Is This (tune Wondrous Love)
  • When I survey the wondrous cross (tune Hamburg)
• The Crystal Cathedral Organ Collection - 12 pieces for the Hazel Wright Organ
  • Celebration
  • Diptych (based on "Orientis Partibus")
  • Heraldings (dedicated to Dr. and Mrs. Robert Schuller)
  • Meditation on "My shepherd will supply my need"
  • Nave (based on "Divinum Mysterium")
  • Toccata on "Old Hundredth"
  • Pastel
  • Prelude on "I Wonder as I Wander"
  • Psalm prelude
  • Schematics (based on "Ton y botel" and "Ebenezer")
  • Seven palette sketches of Utrillo
    • I - Rue des Saints-Pères
    • II - Lapin agile sous la neige
    • III - L'église Saint-Séverin
    • IV - Paris, vu du Square Saint-Antoine
    • V - L'église Boissy-Saint-Antoine
    • VI - La chapelle de Beaulieu
    • VII - Crépuscule, Golfe du Morbihan
  • Soft Stillness and the Night
• Cathedral of commerce (commissioned by the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ for the 2011 centenary of the organ in the Philadelphia department store.)

Arrangements

• Amazing Grace
• By arrangement only
  • Siciliano, from Sonata n°2 for flute, by J.S. Bach
  • Lament of Dido, from Dido & Aeneas, by H. Purcell
  • Dialogo per organo, from L'organo Suonarino, by A. Banchieri
  • Pavane, from Ma Mère l'Oye, by M. Ravel
  • Little litanies of Jesus, by G. Grouvlez
  • Sospiri, by E. Elgar
  • In the garden (based on the tune "Garden"), by C. Austin Miles
  • Christmas, Variations on "Adeste fidelis", by G. Dethier
  • Northern lights, by S. Karg-Elert
  • Vergin, tutto amor, by F. Durante
  • Liebestod, from Tristan & Isolde, by R. Wagner
  • Prayer, from Sea Shell, by C. Engel
  • Prelude to Act III, from Tristan & Isolde, by R. Wagner
• Hear the angels sing, artistic carol settings for organ^[5]
  • We Three Kings Of Orient Are
  • Silent Night, Holy Night
  • O Jesu Sweet, O Jesu Mild
  • Away In A Manger
  • Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine
  • Of the Father's Love Begotten
  • It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
  • O Little Town of Bethlehem
• Ted Alan Worth in concert^[6]
  • Symphonia No 29, by Johann Sebastian Bach
  • Romanza, by Edvard Grieg
  • Winter Night, by Frederick Delius
  • Homage to Fritz Kreisler (based on "Londonderry Air")

Hymns

• Hymnal Companion For Organ (free accompaniments and modulations with original hymns in organ score)
• For the Masses (published by Sacred Music Press)
  • Sing of Mary
  • Hail, Holy Queen, Enthroned Above (Salve Regina Coelitum)
  • At the cross her station keeping (Stabat Mater Dolorosa)
  • Hail, Holy Queen, enthroned above (Salve Regina Coelitum)
  • Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest
• Favorite Hymns for Organ (published by Alfred Music)
  • Abide with Me
  • Fairest Lord Jesus
  • Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Notes and References

1. Book: Richard Torrence. Marshall Yaeger. Ted Alan Worth. Virgil Fox Society. Virgil Fox (the dish): an irreverent biography of the great American organist. 2001. Circles International. 34. 9780971297005.
2. Book: Craig Whitney. All the Stops: The Glorious Pipe Organ and Its American Masters. 15 September 2004. PublicAffairs. 978-0-7867-4025-3. 133.
3. Web site: Robert Hebble Obituary - West Palm Beach, FL.
4. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ridgewood-news-robert-hebble-of-west/130627216/ "Hebble at West Side"
5. Web site: Hear The Angels Sing Sheet Music By Robert Hebble - Sheet Music Plus. www.sheetmusicplus.com. 2016-04-09.
6. Web site: Ted Alan Worth In Concert Sheet Music By Robert Hebble - Sheet Music Plus. www.sheetmusicplus.com. 2016-04-09.