Short Name: | Richard Hillert |
Full Name: | Hillert, Richard, 1923-2010 |
Birth Year: | 1923 |
Death Year: | 2010 |
Richard Hillert was born in Granton, Clark County, Wis., on March 14, 1923. There he attended parochial and public schools and later enrolled at Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University Chicago), River Forest, where he received the Bachelor of Science degree in Education. He served as teacher and music director for parishes in St. Louis, Mo., Wausau, Wis., and Chicago and Westchester, Ill. He received both the Master of Music and the Doctor of Music degrees in composition from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. His teachers included Matthew Nathaniel Lundquist, Anthony Donato, Alan Stout, Arrand Parsons, Emil Nolte, and John Ohl. He studied composition with the Italian composer, Goffredo Petrassi, at Aaron Copland’s Berkshire Music Center, Tanglewood, Mass.
Richard Hillert was a noted Lutheran composer. He was Distinguished Professor of Music Emeritus at Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill. He was best known for his work as a composer and teacher of composition. Among his most frequently performed liturgical works for congregation is Worthy Is Christ, with its antiphon, “This is the Feast of Victory” which was written as an alternate Song of Praise for inclusion in Setting One of the Holy Communion in Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) and Lutheran Worship (1982). "This is the Feast" is now widely published in more than 20 recent worship books of many denominations, most recently in Lutheran Service Book (2006) and Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006). Other major liturgical works include a setting of Evening Prayer (1984) and a Eucharistic Festival Liturgy (1983), which was first performed at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. He wrote liturgical pieces and hymns and served as music editor for Worship Supplement(1969) and Lutheran Book of Worship (1978). His compositions and publications include an array of pieces of liturgical music for congregation, choral motets, hymns and hymn anthems, psalm settings and organ works, concertatos, and cantatas, including settings of The Christmas Story According to Saint Luke and The Passion According to Saint John. He edited eleven volumes of the Concordia Hymn Prelude Series.
Hillert's career as Professor of Music at Concordia (now Concordia University Chicago) spanned four decades, from 1959 to 1993. During this time he taught classes in music theory and composition, music literature, 20th century music, orchestration, keyboard instruction, comparative arts and liturgical worship. He served in various capacities in the music department, as chair in 1964-65 and from 1986–89, as coordinator of the Master of Church Music program, and as associate editor of the journal Church Music (1966–80).
Non-liturgical compositions include symphonic works for orchestra (Symphony in Three Movements, Variations for Orchestra, Suite for Strings), chamber works for small orchestra and ensembles (Alternations for Seven Instruments, Divertimento I and II) as well as many works for keyboard, instrumental solos and songs. The latter include Sonata for Piano (1961), a violin sonata, and two sonatas for flute and keyboard. Major organ works include Prelude and Toccata, Ricercata, Passacaglia on Innocent Sounds, Partita on Picardy, and Partita on Atkinson. There are also concert works with sacred texts, such as Five Canticles from the Exodus (1958), Te Deum for two pianos, percussion, and wind instruments (1962), The Alleluiatic Sequence (1980), and Seven Psalms of Grace for baritone solo and chamber orchestra (1998). Extended choral works, many written for Concordia’s Kapelle conducted by Thomas Gieschen, include the Cantata: "May God Bestow on Us His Grace" (1964), "Motet for the Day of Pentecost" for choir, vibraphone, and prepared electronic tape (written for the round-the-world tour in 1969), "Motet for the Time of Easter" for double choir, percussion, and harp (1971), and "Agnus Dei" for three choirs and percussion instruments (1974).
Richard Hillert authored numerous scholarly articles and reviews for the periodicals such as Church Music, CrossAccent, and Currents in Theology and Mission, and other professional books and journals. He received an honorary Doctor of Sacred Music degree from Valparaiso University, and honorary Doctor of Letters degrees from Concordia University at Seward, Nebraska, and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He was an honorary life member of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. His former students throughout the land have careers as practicing church musicians, elementary and secondary school teachers, teachers in higher education, music editors and publishers, and composers.
Richard Hillert was married to Gloria Bonnin Hillert. They had three children: Kathryn Brewer, Virginia and Jonathan Hillert.
--en.wikipedia.org
Tunes by Richard Hillert (42) | As | Instances | Incipit |
---|---|---|---|
BEATUS VIR | Richard Hillert, b. 1923 (Harmonizer) | 8 | 11134 32112 34176 |
[Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel] (Hillert) | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | 12323 45443 23217 |
CLAY COURT (Hillert) | Richard Hillert (Composer) | 2 | |
[Climb to the top of the highest mountain] | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | 13454 57754 31345 |
[Come, let us sing to the Lord] (Hillert) | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | |
[Create in me a clean heart, O God] (Hillert) | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | |
EBENEZER (Williams) | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Arranger) | 5 | 11232 12234 3215 |
EIN FESTE BURG | Richard Hillert (Harmonizer) | 1 | 11156 71765 17656 |
FESTIVAL CANTICLE | Richard Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 34 | |
[God, who has called you to glory] | Richard W. Hillert (Composer) | 2 | 66716 127 |
GRANTON | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 4 | 17656 12316 65432 |
[I called to my God for help] | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | 13446 76431 3444 |
ICH FREU MICH IN DEM HERREN | Richard W. Hillert, 1923-2010 (Arranger) | 1 | 15543 21122 43215 |
IN DULCI JUBILO | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Arranger) | 1 | 11134 56551 13456 |
[Jesus, Lamb of God] (Hillert) | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | 44456 54354 321 |
KINGLY LOVE | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 4 | 33327 67163 3271 |
[Lamb of God] (Festival Liturgy) | Richard Hillert (Composer) | 5 | 54571 76471 273 |
[Let my prayer be set before you as incense] | Richard W. Hillert (Composer (tone)) | 1 | 56112 12315 |
[Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord] (Hillert) | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 3 | |
[Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father] (Hillert) | Richard Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | 55517 67356 65412 |
[Lord Jesus, from your wounded side] (Hillert) | Richard Hillert (Composer) | 9 | 13455 42356 71176 |
MISSION (Hillert) | Richard Hillert, 1923- (Composer) | 3 | 13456 45432 13271 |
NARODIL SE KRISTUS PÁN | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Arranger) | 1 | 12345 55456 55544 |
NETTLETON | Richard Hillert, 1923-2010 (Composer) | 4 | 32113 52235 65321 |
[Now listen, you servants of God] | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | 56532 12333 51766 |
[Our Father, who art in heaven] (A Festival Eucharist) | Richard Hillert (Composer) | 1 | 71754 56416 5457 |
PRINCETON (Hillert) | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | |
RIVER FOREST | Richard Hillert (Composer) | 2 | 13427 12345 36534 |
SALEM (Hillert) | Richard Hillert, 1923- (Composer) | 2 | 15545 33214 32167 |
SHEPHERDING | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 5 | 24445 66616 66546 |
[Sing praise to the Lord, all the earth] | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | 51112 34555 43221 |
ST. DENIO | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Arranger) | 2 | 16427 51332 11642 |
SURSUM CORDA (Smith) | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Arranger) | 6 | 13543 21221 56716 |
[Thank the Lord and sing his praise] | Richard W. Hillert, 1923-2010 (Composer) | 2 | 55654 51234 32312 |
[Thankful hearts and voices raise] (Hillert) | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | |
[The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light] (Hillert) | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | 56671 13111 23432 |
TWAKUOMBA, BWANA MUNGU, NJOO KWETU (55556) | Richard Hillert (Arranger) | 1 | 55556 54354 31165 |
W ZLOBIE LEZY | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Arranger) | 1 | 55117 12234 54321 |
WAJIBU MWEMA (35432) | Richard Hillert (Arranger) | 1 | 35432 35432 32222 |
[When Christ comes to die on Calvary] | Richard Hillert (Composer) | 2 | 34555 64431 11343 |
[You are God; we praise you] (Hillert 17677) | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | 17677 12332 12216 |
[You are God, we praise You] (Hillert 11123) | Richard W. Hillert, b. 1923 (Composer) | 2 | 11123 42111 |