Richard Wagner (1813–1883) was largely self taught in music.
Die
Meistersinger von Nürnberg was completed in 1867 and remains popular
today in spite of its five hour length.
Walther’s Prize Song comes
to him in a dream and he sings it for his friend Hans Sachs in Act III, Scene
2. Brewer has simplified the active accompaniment to create a transcription
of this beautiful melody that is accessible to all.
Alfred Herbert Brewer was born in Gloucester, England, on
June 21, 1865. Unlike Wagner, he was highly educated and well-trained in music.
He studied organ with such teachers as Charles Villiers Stanford, he won scholarships,
he earned multiple degrees, he was awarded Hon.R.A.M. and F.R.C.O, and was
knighted by the king. He was a well-rounded musician who was able to bring
orchestral favorites to the organ in transcriptions that are approachable
and always easier to play than those by other well-known organists such as
Edwin Lemare. Walther’s Preislied is
moderately easy.