The Central Florida Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presented “A Community Sing-In: The Music of David Hurd” on Sunday, April 21, at St. Michael’s, Orlando. The concert, 15 years in the making, featured an artist widely recognized and admired as one of the foremost sacred music composers in the U.S.

“For the last 15 years, I have been submitting the name of Dr. David Hurd as an organist, composer of hymns and anthems whose talents should be showcased by CFAGO,” said Dr. Carl MaultsBy, director of music at St. Richard’s, Winter Park. “This year, the schedules of both Dr. Hurd and the CFAGO aligned. His versatility as an organist, composer and choral director offered the guild choices of whether or not he would be brought to Central Florida as an organ recitalist, choral director or workshop leader.”

The Tribute Choir, conducted by Dr. David Hurd (front, third from left), included CFAGO members and the Jones High School Master Singers (green blazers). | Photo: Courtesy CFAGO

Sixty to 70 people attended the free event, which featured improvisations by Hurd and the CFAGO Tribute Choir and a sing-along with the audience and the choir of his recently created choral work, “When in Our Music,” along with other hymns. The 30-member choir was comprised of the Jones High School Master Singers and CFAGO members. Before each section, Hurd explained the origins of the text. He also played prelude and postlude improvisations.

CFAGO offered this free concert to fulfill its mission to advance the cause of organ and choral music and promote its understanding, appreciation and enjoyment.

“With the exception of Anonymous, David Hurd has more hymns published in ‘The Hymnal 1982’ than any other hymn tune composer,” MaultsBy said. “More importantly for CFAGO members, Dr. Hurd’s music is published by several major houses, including GIA Publications, Hope Publishing Company and MorningStar Music Publishers.

“‘Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal,’ ‘Gather’ (Roman Catholic), ‘The Lutheran Hymnal,’ ‘The New Century Hymnal’ (the United Church of Christ) are samples of the hymnals of nearly all mainline denominations containing his music,” he added. “His numerous choral works are staples of church choir libraries. His marriage of text, whether historical or contemporary, is evidence of his appeal across denominations.”

MaultsBy’s favorite parts of the show were the prelude and postlude organ improvisations and the choir and audience singing Hurd’s recent setting of the text, “When in our music God is glorified.”

Dr. David Hurd at the organ | Photo: Courtesy CFAGO

Hurd has over 200 choral and organ works in print plus recordings. His concert piece, “In Honor of Martin,” was featured at New York City’s Lincoln Center by the Dessoff Choirs, and his “Gloria, Gloria” was premiered at Lincoln Center by the Boys Choir of Harlem and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. He now serves as organist/choirmaster of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in New York City, following a 39-year tenure on the faculty of the General Theological Seminary in New York City.

He attended Oberlin Conservatory and studied at both the University of North Carolina and the Manhattan School of Music. He also studied at the preparatory division of the Juilliard School and Manhattan’s High School of Music and Art.

After winning both first prizes (in performance and improvisation) at the 1977 International Congress of Organists, he has had a fantastic career performing and composing and has continued to win awards.

The CFAGO serves about 100 members, including church organists, choir directors, choristers, organ students, teachers and those interested in organ music.

The American Guild of Organists is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. Founded in 1806, it serves approximately 20,000 members in 348 chapters throughout the U.S., Europe, Korea and Argentina.