Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates

Francis Florentine Hagen (1815-1907) was born and grew up in Salem, North Carolina, and received theological training at the Moravian Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. Though he was always devoted to music, he, like so many other Moravian composers, spent his professional life first as a teacher and then as pastor of several congregations. His musical style reflects eighteenth century Moravian roots blended with influences of later Romanticism. His compositions include anthems, an orchestral overture, solo songs, solo piano works, and both original compositions and arrangements for organ, many of which were published during his lifetime. He died at Lititz, Pennsylvania, on July 7, 1907.

 

Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates was edited from manuscript copies in the Salem Congregation and Francis Florentine Hagen Collections. The work is originally scored for flute, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, trombone, strings and organ. Full score and parts are available from the Moravian Music Foundation.

 

The funding for this publication was provided by the Fred W. and Elizabeth H. Pfaff Memorial Fund, established in 1993 upon the death of Fred W. Pfaff, and renamed following the death of Elizabeth H. Pfaff in 2001. The income from this fund is used to support editions of the works of Francis Florentine Hagen. This is particularly appropriate, not only because of the direct relationship between Elizabeth Hagen Pfaff (he was her grandfather), but because of the lifelong love of music evidenced in both Mr. and Mrs. Pfaff’s lives.