Robert T. Anderson (organist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Theodore Anderson (October 5, 1934 – May 29, 2009) was an American
organist
, composer
and pedagogue.
in Chicago (Piano) and at Illinois Wesleyan University
in Bloomington, Illinois
(Bachelor's Degree in organ performance with Lillian Mecherle McCord). Further studies followed at the Union Theological Seminary
in New York
(Master's and Doctoral Degrees in Sacred Music, 1957 and 1961) and (through a Fulbright scholarship
) 1957-1959 with Helmut Walcha
in Frankfurt am Main. In addition, Anderson studied organ with Heinrich Fleischer
and Frederick Marriott, composition with Harold Friedell and Seth Bingham
and harpsichord with Maria Jager. Beginning in 1960, he served as Professor of Organ and Sacred Music at Southern Methodist University
and as organist of the University Chapel and Perkins School of Theology
, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
, until his retirement in 1997.
He wrote numerous compositions for organ solo, including a Triptych (1958), as well as a cantata, "Garden of Gethsemane," after a text by Boris Pasternak
.
Anderson was organ consultant for some of the finest concert hall organs in North America: the C. B. Fisk organs at Meyerson Symphony Center (Opus 100, 1992) and SMU's Caruth Auditorium (Opus 101, 1993), both in Dallas, TX. He also initiated the prestigious Dallas International Organ Competition, of which he was chair in 1997 and 2000.
As a concert organist, he played numerous recitals in the United States and Europe and was invited to leading organ festivals in Nuremberg
, Paris
, Berlin
and Vienna
. He was one of the leading organ teachers of his time in the United States. Among his more than 100 former students were organists such as George C. Baker
, Ignace Michiels
, Carole Terry
and Wolfgang Rübsam
.
Robert Anderson died in Honolulu in 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and pedagogue.
Biography
He was born on October 5, 1934 in Chicago. He received his musical training at the American Conservatory of MusicAmerican Conservatory of Music
The American Conservatory of Music was a major American school of music founded in 1886 by John James Hattstaedt . The conservatory was incorporated as an Illinois non-profit corporation. It was located in Chicago until 1991 when its Board of Trustees — chaired by Frederic Wilbur Hickman...
in Chicago (Piano) and at Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856...
in Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
(Bachelor's Degree in organ performance with Lillian Mecherle McCord). Further studies followed at the Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(Master's and Doctoral Degrees in Sacred Music, 1957 and 1961) and (through a Fulbright scholarship
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
) 1957-1959 with Helmut Walcha
Helmut Walcha
Helmut Walcha was a blind German organist who specialized in the works of the Dutch and German baroque masters and is known for his recordings of the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach.- Biography :Born in Leipzig, Walcha was blinded at age 19 after vaccination for smallpox...
in Frankfurt am Main. In addition, Anderson studied organ with Heinrich Fleischer
Heinrich Fleischer
Heinrich Fleischer was an organist from Leipzig, Germany. He fought in World War II, in which he lost one finger on his left hand and another half finger. After the war, Fleischer re-taught himself to play the organ with his remaining fingers. He went on to become an organist at Valparaiso...
and Frederick Marriott, composition with Harold Friedell and Seth Bingham
Seth Bingham
Seth Daniels Bingham was an American organist and prolific composer.He was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey. He studied at Yale University, gaining a B.A. in 1904 and a B.Mus. in 1908, and subsequently taught theory and composition at Yale from 1908–1919...
and harpsichord with Maria Jager. Beginning in 1960, he served as Professor of Organ and Sacred Music at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
and as organist of the University Chapel and Perkins School of Theology
Perkins School of Theology
Perkins School of Theology is one of Southern Methodist University's three original schools. The theology school was renamed in 1945 to honor benefactors Joe J...
, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, until his retirement in 1997.
He wrote numerous compositions for organ solo, including a Triptych (1958), as well as a cantata, "Garden of Gethsemane," after a text by Boris Pasternak
Boris Pasternak
Boris Leonidovich Pasternak was a Russian language poet, novelist, and literary translator. In his native Russia, Pasternak's anthology My Sister Life, is one of the most influential collections ever published in the Russian language...
.
Anderson was organ consultant for some of the finest concert hall organs in North America: the C. B. Fisk organs at Meyerson Symphony Center (Opus 100, 1992) and SMU's Caruth Auditorium (Opus 101, 1993), both in Dallas, TX. He also initiated the prestigious Dallas International Organ Competition, of which he was chair in 1997 and 2000.
As a concert organist, he played numerous recitals in the United States and Europe and was invited to leading organ festivals in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. He was one of the leading organ teachers of his time in the United States. Among his more than 100 former students were organists such as George C. Baker
George C. Baker
George C. Baker is an American organist, composer, pedagogue, and dermatologist.- Biography :George C. Baker received his first musical instruction at age four. In 1961, he began to take organ lessons with Phil Baker, organist at Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas. He completed his organ...
, Ignace Michiels
Ignace Michiels
Ignace Michiels is a Belgian organist at the St. Salvator's Cathedral of Bruges, a choral conductor and an organ teacher. He is internationally known as a concert organist.- Professional career :...
, Carole Terry
Carole Terry
Carole Ruth Terry is an American organist, harpsichordist, and pedagogue.-Biography:Carole Terry received her musical training at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas Carole Ruth Terry (born in 1948) is an American organist, harpsichordist, and pedagogue.-Biography:Carole Terry received...
and Wolfgang Rübsam
Wolfgang Rübsam
Wolfgang Friedrich Rübsam is a German-American organist, pianist, composer and pedagogue.-Biography:...
.
Robert Anderson died in Honolulu in 2009.
Discography
- The C. B. Fisk Organ, Opus 101, at Southern Methodist University.
- Works of Grigny (Pange lingua), Tournemire (Paraphrase-Carillon), Zwillich (Praeludium), Buxtehude (Praeludium in A Major, BuxWV 151), Bach (Trio Sonata VI in G Major, BWV 530) and Reger (Chorale Fantasia on "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme", op. 52, No. 2).
- Robert T. Anderson (Grigny, Tournemire, Zwillich) und Wolfgang Rübsam (Buxtehude, Bach, Reger), organ. Recorded in June 1994 (Anderson) and July 1994 (Rübsam) on the C. B. Fisk organ at Caruth Auditorium, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Valparaiso, IN: RMC Classics, 1994. 1 CD.
- Works of Grigny (Pange lingua), Tournemire (Paraphrase-Carillon), Zwillich (Praeludium), Buxtehude (Praeludium in A Major, BuxWV 151), Bach (Trio Sonata VI in G Major, BWV 530) and Reger (Chorale Fantasia on "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme", op. 52, No. 2).