Organ Works by Eurydice V. Osterman
An overview of recent organ works by Eurydice V. Osterman.
GIA is proud to publish these recent works by “celebrated educator, composer, and author”, Eurydice V. Osterman.
Psalm 23
Psalm 23 is a three-part piece built upon a theme consisting of all the notes in the first, middle, and last names of a friend who is also an organist. The pervasive four-note motive is derived from the first four notes of the theme. The first section, “The Pastorale,” creates the impression of a calm lake in a peaceful green valley by using slow-moving chromatic mediants, meandering harmonies, and descending hexatonic scales. The second section, “The Valley of the Shadow of Death,” ensues with an ominous feeling created by a one-note ostinato in the pedal, an ascending hexatonic scale, fully diminished seventh chords, exploitation of the theme via superimposed major and augmented triads, and a split-third chord that brings that section to its climax. The final section, “Dwelling in the House of the Lord,” bursts into a toccata with the theme in the pedal, and is interspersed with an omnibus (ascending chords over a descending chromatic pedal). The piece ends with a final statement of the motive in the pedal.
Note that Psalm 23 is written so that each section can also be played separately, if desired. -Eurydice V. Osterman
Pastorale
The Valley of the Shadow of Death
Dwelling in the House of the Lord
Yuletide Favorites for Organ
Yuletide Favorites is a collection for organ, based upon Christmas carols: “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing,” “Joy to the World,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Silent Night,” “There’s a Song in the Air,” and a unique blend of “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” and “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.”
-Eurydice V. Osterman
Advent Medley
Joy to the World
There’s a Song in the Air
More works for organ by Eurydice V. Osterman:
Postlude on Unity Hymn - G-11560
Postlude on DUKE STREET - G-11166
Trilogy for Easter - G-11192
Four Festive Pieces for Organ - G-9891
About Eurydice V. Osterman
Eurydice V. Osterman is a Fulbright scholar and a published author and composer whose works have been read and performed around the world. A listing of her works is cited in the book, Music by Black Women Composers: A Bibliography of Available Scores by Helen Walker-Hill, CBRM Monographs, No.5, 1995. She is also the featured composer in the dissertation of Angelique Clay, “The Life and Music of Eurydice V. Osterman.” She is an accomplished organist and served as Dean of the Greater Huntsville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. She was commissioned by the AGO to compose a piece for the 2024 national convention.
Dr. Osterman is currently a retired professor of music from Oakwood University. During her tenure at Oakwood, she served as chair of the department, choral director in addition to teaching theory and composition courses. She was also an adjudicator for the standard setting process for the Praxis II Teacher Certification Examination for use in the State of Alabama. In 2009 Dr. Osterman took a leave of absence from Oakwood to serve as chair of the Department of Music at Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica, preparing for first-time Music Department accreditation.
Dr. Osterman has conducted numerous music seminars throughout the United States, Europe, the Caribbean, Porto Rico, South America, and Africa. She has also made professional presentations at several universities across the country-- Andrews University, Michigan; Clark-Atlanta University, Georgia; Fayetteville State University, North Carolina; Hampton University, Virginia; Morehouse College, Georgia; University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; Tuskegee University, The University of Dayton, and the most recent at the University for Women, Columbus, Mississippi.