Max Burdorf Miller, age 85, died January 5 in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Born in 1927, Miller began his study of the organ in his native California; while studying Arnold Schoenberg’s Variations on a Recitative, he received coaching from the composer. He and his wife Betty lived in Vienna for several years in the 1950s, while Max studied with Anton Heiller. Miller received his Ph.D. from Boston University, and was a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists; for many years he wrote the “Ask Uncle Max” column for The American Organist.
Miller served on the faculties of the School of Music and the School of Theology at Boston University for 42 years until his retirement in 1991. He was simultaneously university organist, director of music at Marsh Chapel, director of the Master of Sacred Music program, conductor of the Seminary Singers (which he took on tour every year), and professor of organ in the School of Music. In 1983 he composed the tune Marsh Chapel for use with the text “Awake, O sleeper, rise from death.”
Miller was the guiding spirit in the founding of The Organ Library, located in the Boston University School of Theology; it has grown to be one of the largest collections of organ music in the world, accessible though a searchable database. The Organ Library awards the biennial Max B. Miller prize to outstanding books devoted to organ literature and performance. Max Burdorf Miller is survived by his wife of 52 years, Elizabeth (Hyde) Miller, three sons, and five grandchildren. Contributions in memory of Dr. Max B. Miller may be made to the Organ Library in the School of Theology at Boston University, 745 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215.
