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A significant addition to the musical landscape emerged with the release earlier this year of "Variations on Four Sunday School Tunes" by Virgil Thomson. Featuring MSU Instructor of Organ Hae Won Jang performing on the Red Cedar Organ and David Rayl conducting the Michigan State University Chorale, this recording is now available for free streaming on all platforms.

The Red Cedar Organ was built of Létourneau Pipe Organs of Quebec and installed on MSU’s campus following a generous donation by Ed and Wanda Eichler. A grant from the Budds Center for American Music Studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia made the recording project possible. 

“The choir recorded the four hymns upon which each of the variations are based on February 15, 2020, just before the beginning of the pandemic. The pandemic then delayed the completion of the project, and the organ piece was recorded separately on Monday, May 1, 2023,” explained Rayl, professor emeritus of choral music who previously served the College of Music as director of choral programs and senior associate dean for graduate studies and research. 

Thomson's Variations, composed between 1926 and 1927, draw inspiration from his early years as an organist in Kansas City, Missouri. This is the only recording to include the hymn tunes that Thomson employed as melodic source material for the organ work.

“Virgil Thomson was arguably one of the best-known composers of the mid-twentieth century, and in his work as music critic, he was one of the most influential voices in American music,” Rayl said. “Although his friend Aaron Copland is viewed as the first composer to develop an ‘American’ sound, Thomson preceded Copland in the use of American hymnody as source-material for his compositions. ‘Four Sunday School Tunes’ is one of his first works based on this repertoire.”

Rayl said the recording was produced and engineered by Sergei Kvitko of Blue Griffin Recording, and that the music community owes a tremendous thanks to the Eichlers who funded the organ construction in the chapel. It was there that Jang, an MSU Music alum, recorded the organ parts. It is the first commercial recording made on the instrument, and Rayl said Jang did a fantastic job with a challenging score.

"The Virgil Thomson recording project was an absolute delight," Jang said. "As someone deeply appreciative of choir music, exploring these variations was immensely enjoyable, with each piece bursting with colorful harmonies, unexpected progressions, and diverse textures."

Jang also praised the Red Cedar Organ for its clean sound and responsiveness. Rayl attended the organ recording session as well. 

"Working with the Red Cedar Organ was particularly satisfying. Its varied registrations, including vibrating reed sections and essential principal pipes, offered a rich array of possibilities," she said. “Dr. Rayl’s presence during the actual recording sessions, where he shared ideas and insights, greatly enhanced the outcome.”

Overall, this recording serves as a tribute to American musical heritage, offering listeners a glimpse into Thomson's innovations. It stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of talented musicians and the enduring legacy of Thomson's work.

“I believe this endeavor holds significant meaning,” Jang added, “not only for the rediscovery of American composers’ pieces but also for personal growth and artistic exploration.”