Organ matters - Organs matter!

Organ Music, Repertoire and Performance => Performers worthy of particular recommendation and interesting repertoire => Topic started by: AnOrganCornucopia on January 22, 2012, 03:07:48 AM

Title: † Gerre Hancock R. I. P. †
Post by: AnOrganCornucopia on January 22, 2012, 03:07:48 AM
I have just heard that Gerre Hancock, for a long time Organist and DofM at St Thomas, Fifth Avenue, New York City, has died at the age of 77. He was booked to give a recital today at the Catholic Cathedral in St Louis, Missouri, but pulled out on Thursday due to "unforeseen medical issues". He took a massive heart attack on Friday and died on Saturday. I hope that the forum will join me in offering condolences to Hancock's family and friends, and taking a moment to reflect on the passing of a genius.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?=U3Af4DsMVu8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?=U3Af4DsMVu8)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_tPQogv-c8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_tPQogv-c8)

Requiem aeternam dona eis domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescat in pacem.

Ait illi dominus eius: Euge serve bone, et fidelis, quia super pauca fuisti fidelis, super multa te constituam, intra in gaudium domini tui. Matthew 25:21.
Title: Re: † Gerre Hancock R. I. P. †
Post by: diapason on January 22, 2012, 09:54:52 PM
We have lost one of the giants of the profession, and we are all poorer for his passing.  I am sure that all our thoughts and prayers are with Judith and her family as we give thanks for Gerre's enormous contribution to music, and, in particular, for his work at St Thomas.
Title: Re: † Gerre Hancock R. I. P. †
Post by: KB7DQH on January 23, 2012, 10:34:49 AM
Similar sentiments echoed on Dr. Carol Williams' Facebook page...

Eric
KB7DQH
Title: Re: † Gerre Hancock R. I. P. †
Post by: KB7DQH on January 24, 2012, 05:21:44 AM
And the news article...

QuoteRenowned organist taught sacred music at UT

QuoteBorn to a family of Southern Baptists in Lubbock, Gerre Hancock was playing the piano by the time he could walk. In time, he would become one of the foremost concert organists in the nation.

Hancock, who was also a professor of organ and sacred music at the University of Texas, died Saturday of a heart attack at St. David's Medical Center. He was 77.

"Gerre Hancock was a legend in his own time. We are so fortunate to have had him on the faculty in the Butler School of Music for nearly nine years," said Glenn Chandler, director of the school.

Hancock joined the faculty at UT, his alma mater, after 32 years as organist and master of choristers at St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York, where he and his wife, Judith, built what was arguably the finest Anglican music program in the nation, Chandler said.

Gerre Hancock performed over the years in many cities throughout the United States, Europe, Japan and South Africa, sometimes in duo recitals with his wife, a senior lecturer at UT.

Hancock delighted in the pedal pushing, knob pulling and key pounding on an array of keyboards; all part and parcel of playing sacred music on the pipe organ. Sacred music is music composed for religious ceremonies.

"Not too loud, is it?" he asked an American-Statesman reporter during a demonstration in 2004. "Coordination is key, but so are earplugs."

Hancock studied at UT under W. William Doty, founding dean of its music school, whom Hancock called his "musical father." After earning his bachelor's degree, he went on to earn a master's degree in sacred music from Union Theological Seminary in New York.

His textbook, "Improvising: How to Master the Art," is widely used, as are his compositions for organ and chorus.

A memorial Choral Requiem Eucharist will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 4 in New York at St. Thomas Church. Hancock's ashes will be interred beneath the floor of the chancel where choir directors stand to lead the choir.

rhaurwitz@statesman.com; 445-3604

Eric
KB7DQH
Title: Re: † Gerre Hancock R. I. P. †
Post by: KB7DQH on January 30, 2012, 07:39:44 AM
This could just as easily have appeared in "From Our Local DJ" but as it relates to Gerre Hancock directly...

This week's edition of The Organ Loft featured his work at the beginning of the broadcast...

And a special offer is available from Gothic Records-- With a purchase of $20.00 or more a FREE disc of Gerre Hancock's music will be included 8) 8) 8)

Visithttp://www.gothic-catalog.com/ (http://www.gothic-catalog.com/) for details...

Eric
KB7DQH