Eugene Thayer (1838-1889), a contemporary of Dudley Buck and John
Knowles Paine, was one of the early American organ virtuosi who composed
many works for the organ.
This favorite organ setting
of “Auld
Lang Syne” is the solo version. Both solo and duet versions came out
under the series,
Album for Organists, which proclaims that this
is “a choice collection of concert music for the organ with pedaling
and registration.” (The duet is Opus 26 amd the solo is Opus 30.) The
registration is given for a two manual instrument, though it is very easy
to amplify the choices given with the resources of a larger organ. As with
many pieces in variations, this one ends with a fugue where everyone will
recognize the subject, a pedal obbligato, and a big, dramatic ending. Moderate.