Prelude For St. John's Day

I composed an organ prelude in the summer of 2024 in celebration of the Nativity of St. John The Baptist, also known as St. John's Day, traditionally celebrated on June 24. St. John's Day is both astronomically and theologically 'opposite' Christmas Day — as Christmas is celebrated around the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, St. John's Day falls around the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. As the sun "increases" after the Winter Solstice (gradually increasing sunlight every day), so does Christ 'increase' theologically after Christmas. The other half of the cycle is relevant to John The Baptist. After St. John's Day, the sun begins to decrease, approaching Christmas, as St. John the Baptist says, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) This creates an interesting symbolic link of St. John the Baptist with the sun of our solar system.

The piece is yet to be performed, but here is a MIDI rendering of the score: