leaderboard1 -

Nunc Dimittis

September 25, 2003
Default

Rayner Brown died on
June 16 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 87, of pneumonia. A
distinguished teacher, performer, and composer, he was Professor of Music at
Biola University, La Mirada, California from 1948-1977. He held BMus and
MMus degrees from the University of Southern California, and was a long-time
member of the Los Angeles AGO chapter. A church organist for 50 years, he
served for many years at Wilshire Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, working
with director of music Robert Tusler. His more than 200 compositions include
six symphonies, 20 concerti, large ensemble and chamber works, choral, piano,
harpsichord, and numerous organ works. His compositions will be housed in the
library at the University of Southern California. Brown organized the
publication of several collections of new organ music, including The AGO
Prelude Book. He also promoted and edited two other publications, The
California Organist and the Wilshire Presbyterian Music Foundation Series. An
extensive article, "Rayner Brown, 80th Birthday Tribute," was
published in the March, 1992 issue of The Diapason, with contributions from
Robert Tusler, Jack Schwartz, Orpha Ochse, Cherry Rhodes, and Ladd Thomas.

Joseph Hofrichter
died on July 17 at Mitchell, South Dakota. Born in Lakewood, Ohio, in 1913, he
attended Oberlin College from 1931-36 with a dual major in organ and
music education, receiving two Bachelor degrees. His organ teachers include
George Lillich and Arthur Poister. He taught at Dakota Wesleyan University 1936-39,
and returned to Oberlin on a teaching fellowship to complete his Master's
degree 1939-41. During 1941 he taught in the Cleveland public schools.
After World War II, he taught organ at Oklahoma State College from
1947-50, and then taught at Oberlin 1950-52. He left teaching for a
career in business, and while working in New York City was organist at Staten
Island Presbyterian Church and Marble Collegiate Church. In 1957 he moved to
California where he taught organ, music theory and conducted chorus and orchestra
at Hollywood High School, retiring in 1974.