Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

March 16, 1943 in Birmingham, AL

Death

:

May 9, 2015 in New York City, NY

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Choral

 

McNeil Robinson was an American composer, organist, and choir director who was born on April 25, 1943, in New York City. He was the son of a prominent organist and composer, McNeil Robinson Sr., who was also the organist and choirmaster at the Park Avenue Baptist Church in New York City. Robinson Jr. grew up in a musical family and began playing the piano at a young age. He later switched to the organ and became a student of his father. Robinson attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, where he studied organ with Vernon de Tar and composition with Vincent Persichetti. He also studied with Jean Langlais in Paris and with Nadia Boulanger in Fontainebleau. Robinson received his Bachelor of Music degree from Juilliard in 1965 and his Master of Music degree in 1966. After completing his studies, Robinson began his career as a church musician. He served as the organist and choirmaster at several churches in New York City, including the Church of the Heavenly Rest, St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, and Park Avenue Christian Church. He also served as the director of music at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City from 1984 to 1990. Robinson was known for his innovative and eclectic approach to church music. He was a proponent of the use of contemporary music in worship and was a pioneer in the use of electronic instruments in church music. He was also a prolific composer of choral and organ music, with over 200 works to his credit. One of Robinson's most famous works is his "Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis," which was commissioned by St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in 1979. The piece is a setting of the Evening Canticles for the Anglican liturgy and is scored for choir, organ, and brass. It has been performed by choirs around the world and is considered a modern classic of church music. Robinson's other notable works include his "Missa Brevis," which is a setting of the Ordinary of the Mass for choir and organ, and his "Toccata Festiva," which is a virtuosic organ piece that has become a staple of the organ repertoire. He also composed several works for solo organ, including his "Variations on a Theme of Paganini," which is a set of variations on the famous violin theme. In addition to his work as a composer and church musician, Robinson was also a respected teacher and lecturer. He taught at the Juilliard School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. He also gave lectures and masterclasses around the world and was a frequent guest on radio and television programs. Robinson received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Juilliard School of Music and the Award of Merit from the American Guild of Organists. He was also a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Robinson died on May 9, 2015, at the age of 72. His legacy as a composer, church musician, and teacher continues to inspire musicians around the world. His innovative approach to church music and his prolific output of choral and organ works have made him one of the most important figures in American church music of the 20th century.

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