Paul Manz studied with Flor Peeters and Helmut Walcha, served for 37 years as organist of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis MN, and lives now in Chicago IL.
This chorale prelude on the hymntune, Cwm Rhondda, is Manz's most famous organ piece. It was based on one of his improvisations.
The Advent hymn "Wake, Awake" is a translation of the German hymn "Wachet auf." This hymn, first published in 1599, is considered to be one of the cornerstones of German hymnody. There are many arrangements of this tune, and this one contrasts organ trumpets with the Great principal chorus.