• Fantasy in d Minor (2008). How Native American flute music might sound if Bach played it on an organ. This short and easy piece moves through several meditative sections, with some pauses for the sounds to echo; rather than building to a climax. Included are solo, canon and fugal sections with peaceful, healing chords at the end. I recommend this piece.
• Prelude in C (2008). One of my typical jaunty themes, together with several more-or-less related motifs, and some razzle-dazzle, make up this fun, short (3 pages), but grand-eloquent piece. It is of moderate difficulty with lots of chords and an almost-continuous pedal part. There is a short cadenza at the end written out in small notes, but the performer can do something different if it seems better.
• Fugue on the Spirit Chant (2006). This is my first fugue, and it worked out well; one of my best compositions I think, with some eloquent moments. The second theme is rather simple, but ends up forming a good climax. We sing the first theme, the spirit chant (which I didn't write), each week now in church, and it seemed like a good one to write a fugue around. It is in F major, and after I wrote the fugue, I realized that the first theme in Bach's Fugue in F Major (S. 540) is similar. There are no words to my fugue though (unless you request the words to the spirit chant); it is not specifically religious music. Moderate difficulty.
• Hallelujah (2005). There is a book of "Joy Songs" circulating among New Thought groups. They are freely distributed, anonymous, and have no copyright. Some are words written for familiar tunes, but some are just lyrics. Only a few of these Joy Songs are really worthwhile, and one of them was called "Hallelujah." I like hallelujahs anyway, so I told my minister I would write a tune for it so we could sing it. That's what I did, editing the original words to make them scan better, and I added two instrumental variations. The last one is sort-of like Ave Maria. I like the result, though it is a bit more difficult to sing and to play than I thought it would be.
• Twelve Variations on an Original Chorale (2004). I hadn't composed in a minor key for a while, so I was glad when this theme in d minor occured to me. No new-agey woo woo stuff or flights of fantasy here! This is solid, meat-and-potatoes music. It seemed time for a sterner piece for the sterner times we have entered. Most of the variations flowed easily to me from inspiration, and they vary from quiet to majestic to florid to passionate. I had just heard one of Franck's great chorales based on original themes, which inspired me; though my piece takes a more typical theme and variations style. That it was influenced by Bach goes without saying. So far I think this is one of my better pieces; well constructed, but the variations are better than the theme itself. It is not real easy, but not too difficult to play.
• Toccata in G (2003). This is my first foray into the French toccata style, with exotic melodies in the pedal, and repeating and shifting rapid accompanying figures in the treble or tenor. Widor and Vierne were the principal creators and composers of this style, also inspired by some of Wagner's famous pieces. I was also inspired by Peter Michael Hamel's more recent work in this style on "Organum," as well as by Bach's Fantasy in G. It is smooth and moves well. This toccata is played more slowly than most others, and overall this piece is moderately easy to play.
• Fantasy in D and C (2002). As with the Toccata in C below, this piece (like many others) is really in more than one key, so why not say so? This is a smoothly-flowing work that aims to be something of an ambient organ piece, although the organ cannot duplicate what can be done on electronic synthesizers, and it is fast. But it has a scenic quality. It is based on a very simple motif. A simple and grand theme appears in counter-point; then takes the lead role. This piece is of moderate difficulty; though the pedal parts are relatively easy.
• Fantasy in C (2001). Bright and cheerful, with an enchanting kind of clock-like rhythm. A few soft shadows are cast by sections in the Mixolidian mode (b-flats). Chimes or bells are called for beginning on page 3 of this 4-page work, written at Christmastime. There are a few new-agey, ambient-style drones and repetitions, which work surprisingly well; but overall the style is pretty traditional. Fun, and moderately easy to play. Definitely one of my best pieces; I recommend this one! People like it when I play it.
  Reviews Received for Fantasy in C
  
• Toccata in C and Several Other Keys (2001). This is a takeoff on the great F Major Toccata of J.S. Bach (which really was in about 7 keys; it only started and ended in F). Bach's Toccata itself was based on the earlier ones by Pachelbel and Buxtehude. However, Bach's was much more elaborate. Mine is a step down from Bach's, which is too difficult for most organists to play. So if you can't play Bach's F Major, you can probably play mine! Moderately difficult level. Although this piece can't be compared to Bach's toccata, it has some inspired moments. It is 6 pages long though, and I only have single 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheets, so you'll have to figure out how to organize them to put on the organ for easy page-turning!
  Reviews Received for Toccata in C and Several Other Keys
  
• Meditation (2001). This has a melody similar to the Jewish kol nidre, and a haunting second theme. The themes blend at the end in a grand climax. I like this one quite a bit. Moderate difficulty.
  Reviews Received for Meditation
  
• Prelude and Toccata (2000). A somewhat jolly, not-very-modern theme is followed by an attractive arabesque which moves into an elaborate final section with the theme in the pedals. Difficult to play, because of the last section.
• Bells are Calling Today (1999). A Christmas-like tune (which also has words) is developed and moves toward a grand climax. Bell-like figures are built-in, which sound great using bell stops. Similar to my 2001 piece Fantasy in C, but not as good. Moderate.
• Witches Walk (1999). This is my first foray into the bewitched genre of spooky, ritualistic music. A strange, quiet introduction leads into a jaunty bewitched theme followed by another more-compelling theme with stronger base-line rhythms. Easy to Moderate difficulty.
  Reviews Received for Witches Walk
  
• Fantasy in F (1999). A simple, short, lively and happy piece. Moderately easy.
• Musette (1999) Short and simple, in a minor key, with a light but grand and thoughtful tone. Easy to play.
• Fantasy in e (1990). Meditative theme, blended in counterpoint with a rhythmic second theme. This one is well constructed and I like the themes. Easy to Moderate.
• Fanfare for the Common Man (1986). Transcription of Copeland's great work. Moderately easy. Please note that this transcription is only available to organists, for whom it was written. If you wish to transcribe the piece yourself for another medium, please obtain the original music.
  Reviews Received of Fanfare for the Common Man
  
• Prelude in d minor (1985). Dark, sort of like monster music. It has more dissonance than my other pieces. Though interesting with a fine climax, the theme is not especially inspired. I think it is based on some incidental music from "The Prisoner" ("The General" episode), although I intended to model it after Vierne's Maestoso. Moderate.
• Dona Nobis Pacem (1985). Transcription of Bach's final movement from the B Minor Mass, which is also a movement from the Gloria section. I am proud of this transcription and think it sounds great on the organ. Moderate to difficult, but it looks and seems at first much harder to play than it really is. Note that, at this time, this one is the most neatly written! I actually made a copy in pen.
  Reviews Received for Dona Nobis Pacem
  
• Toccata in d Minor (1984). Still one of my favorites among my compositions. It was the most inspired, in the sense that the compelling, manic, frenetic, gigue-like main theme came to me in a flash, after first hearing the music of Vierne, while on my bike on the way to practice at church. I then in a frenzy wrote out the first few pages there. Several more themes follow the first in rapid succession. A few days later the quiet, repetitive middle section came to me in a dream, like the serenity of a beautiful sunrise. The climax is compelling, with a tease at the end. A good work, although some sections are reflections of Bach's d minor toccata-- not the famous one, but the dorian one. It is now available in a neatly-handwritten pen version. It is 7 pages long, and moderately difficult.
• Fantasy in G (1983) My first organ work, it is short, simple and gently pastoral. The theme came to me while in rapt meditation sitting at the organ bench. I liked it enough to encourage me to write more! I need to revise this one, so it may take a while to get it to you if you request it. Easy.

Reviews

Reviews of Fantasy in C
Hello Eric, I thought that it was nice... I would be very interested in seeing more of your pieces.
--- A. Dries, PA USA.

Reviews of Toccata in C and Several Other Keys
Eric, everyone thought the toccata in c and several other keys was an awesome song; now they still would like me to play more of your music. --- K. Krommer, MA, USA
Very nice pieces and I will probably end up using one.--- C. Gay, AL USA

Reviews of Meditation
It was a pleasure to play "Meditation." The piece has good structure and nice themes. I particularly like your use of the two manuals for voice crossing, making use of the unique capabilities of the organ for contrasts of tone color and to highlight the voice leading. The non-standard and somewhat daunting notation may account for some of your non-responders... You've got good musical material and have developed it nicely.
--- M. Hauff, OR USA

Reviews of Witches Walk
Witches Walk is a hoot to play. Love all the tritones.-- J. Hennes, Cleveland OH

Reviews of Dona Nobis Pacem
Very nice pieces and I will probably end up using one.--- C. Gay, AL USA

I finally performed the dona nobis pacem and the congregation really enjoyed it and I will be using it more often now. --- K. Krommer, MA, USA

A very nice arrangement; it was much more colorful than the others I had found. --- N. McClellan

Reviews of Fanfare for the Common Man
Thank you for supplying me with a copy of your wonderful arrangement for organ of Aaron Copland's "Fanfare For The Common Man". Your transcription is elegantly executed, thus making the organ performance of this impressive orchestral work incredibly seamless and natural. One could believe that the piece was originally written for organ.
B. Starcevich, IL, USA

I performed your transcription of Fanfare for the Common Man this morning in church and it was very well received. Our music director took the time to compliment the piece after the service and said "as soon as you started everybody perked up and heads turned around - it was wonderful accompaniment for the procession of pastors & acolytes". From a musical perspective I think your transcription is perfect and captures all the tonality of the (original) orchestra arrangement.
---R. Grasier, Torrance CA

The Congregation loved it and are looking forward to having me more, just so I can play that song for them. Do you know any other good Classical Tunes that sound good on an organ?. Thanks a lot for the Fanfare and I'm looking forward to having more good tunes to pick from you.
---K. Krommer, MA, USA

the Copeland is exactly what I wanted.
---J. Hennes, Cleveland OH

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