Prelude on "Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken"

This organ prelude was written for the 1997 regional convention of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) that took place in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, USA. It was originally published by the Berkshire Chapter of the AGO in their book The Berkshire Organbook. The Berkshire Chapter of the AGO put out a call to composers that year to write organ works based on the hymn tune Rendez a Dieu, a melody originally believed to have been composed by Louis Bourgeois (~1510-1561), perhaps in his connection with the Genevan Psalter. More commonly in English, this tune is known as "Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken". As this tune and text are associated with the service of communion, I composed this soft and gentle solo organ work of about 3-4 minutes in length to be played ideally during that time.