All Creatures of Our God & King Gary Gackstatter

Platinum Band Series

PROGRAM NOTES
The original hymn text by Francis of Assisi, circa 1225 (Can­ti­co di frat­re so­le, "Song of Brother Sun") was written shortly before his death, but not published for nearly 400 years. It was translated into English by William Draper for a children's festival in Leeds, England and first appeared in the Public School Hymn Book, 1919. The melody was written by Peter von Brachel in 1623 and harmonized by Ralph Vaughan Williams in The English Hymnal (1906).

This arrangement uses the Vaughan Williams harmonization throughout, presenting it in various fragmented forms (even the fugue section is based on the first notes of the melody played backwards). The chart builds throughout, leading to the full group finally playing the hymn in all its glory.

O praise Him! O praise Him!?
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou rushing wind that art so strong

Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light.

Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show.

O praise Him! O praise Him!?
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

ABOUT THE COMPOSER
Gary Gackstatter (b.1959) is an active artist, composer, conductor, performer and teacher, and is currently in his first year of teaching Instrumental Music at St. Louis Community College at Meremac in Kirkwood, MO. Prior to coming to Missouri, Gackstatter has built and maintained outstanding music programs in Oklahoma and Kansas public schools (1981-94), at Southwestern College (1992-06) and Cowley College (1990-2007)in Kansas and has also directed bands at Wichita State University (Fall 06-Spring 07). He is a 2006 Kansas Governor's Arts Award recipient for Individual Multi-genre Artist.

He is directly responsible for many regional art events including symphonic debuts, internationally known guest artists, and projects combining multiple art forms. His published compositions are performed internationally and his vision to combine the various arts genres in performances has gained national attention. Gackstatter has arranged music and performed with: John McCutcheon, Tom Chapin, John Gorka, Barbara Higbie, Rob Faust, Paul Winter, Kansas and Three Dog Night. He has premiered works by Elmer Bernstein (To Kill A Mockingbird and Great Escape) and Eugene Friesen (Grasslands and Carl Sandburg's "Prairie") with the Paul Winter Consort. Other guest artists Gackstatter has worked with include: Howard Levy, Darol Anger, Michael Martin Murphy, Phillip Aaberg, Cherish the Ladies, and many others.

Gackstatter's artwork has been featured in many galleries and publications and his work was recently featured in the PBS film "Flint Hills: Meditations from Kansas Prairieù." He has recently released a book of his artwork and writings: "Pen and Ink" and has recorded several CDs of original music. In July 2007, Gackstatter's art and music were featured on KAKE-TV with Larry Hatteberg. Gackstatter holds a BME from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and a MMP from Wichita State University.