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Nunc Dimittis

February 3, 2004
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Vernon de Tar died on October 7 in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, at the age of 94. He was organist and choirmaster at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Greenwich Village for 42 years, and had taught at Union Theological Seminary, Yale University, and the Juilliard School. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he studied piano and organ at Syracuse University, graduating in 1927, and continued studies with Franklin Cannon, David McK. Williams and Fernando Germani. He was appointed organist and choirmaster at Calvary Episcopal Church in New York in 1932 and moved to the Church of the Ascension in 1939. There he oversaw the installation of a Holtkamp organ, established a notable sacred music program and a concert series. Dr. de Tar taught at the Juilliard School from 1947 to 1982, the School of Sacred Music at Union Theological Seminary 1945-72, and at the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale University 1975-78. He was a member of the American Guild of Organists, the Association of Anglican Musicians, and the Hymn Society of America. After his retirement from the Church of the Ascension in 1981, he served as a substitute organist at several churches in Pennsylvania and continued to teach privately.

Michael R. Israel died on September 14 following a lengthy illness. Born on October 23, 1962, in North Carolina, he began his musical studies at the University of Cincinnati-Conservatory of Music and earned a degree in organ performance at the University of Louisville. He served as organist and director of music at churches in Cincinnati and in the Kentuckiana area, including Jefferstown Christian Church, Christ Evangelical United Church of Christ, St. John United Presbyterian Church, and Anchorage Presbyterian Church. He also played oboe and English horn, as well as singing baritone in various choral groups. Mr. Israel joined the staff of Miller Pipe Organ Company, Louisville, Kentucky, in 1988, first on a part-time basis while a college student, and later full-time as a technician and eventually service department manager. In that capacity, he had charge of scheduling quarterly visits throughout a ten state area as well as being a tuning team leader. He was a member of the American Institute of Organbuilders, the American Guild of Organists, and the Organ Historical Society. In 1993, he was selected as an E. Power Biggs Fellow by the OHS for the national convention in Louisville and Southern Indiana. He also performed as a recitalist at the convention, playing an 1879 organ by Koehnken & Grimm.

Robert Rayfield died on October 18 in Bloomington, Indiana, at the age of 79. He was professor emeritus of music at Indiana University, an international concert organist, and a church musician. Born April 15, 1920 in Selma, Alabama, he studied at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, where he won the Conservatory Commencement Contest, the Van Dusen Organ Club Scholarship, and the Society of American Musicians Contest. He was later awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for study in Paris, France with Rolande Falcinelli and Jean Langlais. While in Europe, he traveled extensively, playing recitals and studying organ design. After returning from Europe he earned the Doctor of Music degree from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. He was a P51 pilot in the U.S. Air Force and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. He concertized extensively and had made several recordings. Before his appointment to Indiana University in 1963, he served as Chairman of the organ department at Moody Bible Institute and organist of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chicago. He retired from Indiana in 1990. He was known especially for his performances of the music of Leo Sowerby and Jean Langlais, and had written articles for The Diapason, The American Organist, and Clavier. Dr. Rayfield was a member of the American Guild of Organists and the Association of Anglican Musicians, and continued as organist of Trinity Episcopal Church, Bloomington, at the time of his death. Survivors include his wife, Nancy Platt Rayfield, two sons, one sister, and one grandson. A Requiem Eucharist was celebrated on October 22 at Trinity Episcopal Church.

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