M. Thomas Cousins (1914-1972), was an excellent band and choral composer who wrote a number of fine pieces during the mid-20th century. One of his finest, and most long-lasting pieces is “Glorious, Everlasting,” published in 1950. My fine church choir from Roswell UMC will be performing it on Easter Sunday, along with “Glory” by N. Rimsky-Korsakov and “Hallelujah” by G.F. Handel. ”Glorious, Everlasting” has long been one of my favorite “big” church anthems and I’m looking forward to opening the Service with it this Easter.
One of my choir members just sent me an e-mail she received from her sister, sharing a lovely personal reflection about M. Thomas Cousins. Here is what her sister said:
“…..One of the highlights of the weekend was our visit Thursday afternoon with Brent Cousins, son of Thomas Cousins, who wrote –among many other things — “Glorious Everlasting”. We had a wonderful, intimate visit with Brent during which he brought out many newspaper clippings, concert programs, etc. that his mother had saved. But I was overwhelmed with emotion when I picked up the original penciled manuscript of “Glorious Everlasting” complete with his erasures to make changes. Brent said he watched his father sit at the piano that he, Brent, has inherited, and watched him create music. After his father put to paper — with pencil — his composition and perfected it, he would make the final copy in ink. Of course, this was before the computer age when music is now entered into the computer and edited with ease. I feel honored to have had this intimate association with Thomas Cousins through his son.”
I hope Brent Cousins is pleased to know his Dad’s music is still being performed today.
Filed under: Choral experiences | Tagged: Glorious Everlasting, Hallelujah, Handel, Rimsky-Korsakov, Thomas Cousins | 3 Comments »
