David Hurd
Encyclopedia
David Hurd is a composer
, concert
organist
, choral director and educator.
He is a Professor of Sacred Music and Director of Chapel Music at the General Theological Seminary
, Chelsea
, New York City
. He is also the Music Director at the Church of the Holy Apostles, also in Chelsea.
Dr. Hurd attended the High School of Music and Art, the Juilliard School
and Oberlin College
. He holds honorary doctorate
s from Berkeley Divinity School
at Yale, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
, and Church Divinity School of the Pacific
, given in recognition of his contributions to Sacred Music. In 1977 he received first prizes in both Organ Performance and in Organ Improvisation from the International Congress of Organists, being the only person to ever win both prizes in the same year.
Dr. Hurd has held several church staff positions including Assistant Organist, Trinity Church
, and Director of Music at both the Church of the Intercession and All Saints' Church, both in Manhattan. His mass
setting Intercession Mass is used by many congregations across the United States. With over 100 choral and organ works in print, his compositions have appeared in numerous recordings in both the United States and England. Dr. Hurd is regularly sought out by congregations and organizations seeking to commission new anthems and organ works. Significant premieres have included: "Gloria, gloria," for 4-part choir and instrumental accompaniment, commissioned by the Boy's Choir of Harlem, and premiered at Avery Fisher Hall
; "O the Depth of Love Divine," for 4-part choir, brass and organ, commissioned by The Rt. Rev. Neil Alexander, Bishop of Atlanta, and premiered at his consecration; and "Arioso & Final" for organ, commissioned by the Queens Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
. The most recent major work is "Sonata for Saxophone and Organ," commissioned by the Hall-Powers Duo, and premiered in Ljubljana, Slovenia at the International Saxophone Congress in 2006.
Dr. Hurd's sacred compositions can be found in many hymnal
s, including the Episcopal Hymnal, 1982. David Hurd is also one of the world's most visible and successful Classical Organists who is African-American.
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...
, concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
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...
, choral director and educator.
He is a Professor of Sacred Music and Director of Chapel Music at the General Theological Seminary
General Theological Seminary
The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is a seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York....
, Chelsea
Chelsea, Manhattan
Chelsea is a neighborhood on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The district's boundaries are roughly 14th Street to the south, 30th Street to the north, the western boundary of the Ladies' Mile Historic District – which lies between the Avenue of the Americas and...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He is also the Music Director at the Church of the Holy Apostles, also in Chelsea.
Dr. Hurd attended the High School of Music and Art, the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
and Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
. He holds honorary doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
s from Berkeley Divinity School
Berkeley Divinity School
Berkeley Divinity School, founded in 1854, is an official seminary of the Episcopal Church, based in New Haven, Connecticut. The seminary was originally founded as a middle-way between the Anglo-Catholic leaning General Theological Seminary in New York, and the Evangelical-leaning Virginia...
at Yale, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
Seabury-Western Theological Seminary is a seminary of The Episcopal Church, located in Evanston, Illinois. It was formed in 1933 by a merger of Western Theological Seminary of Evanston , and Seabury Divinity School of Faribault, Minnesota...
, and Church Divinity School of the Pacific
Church Divinity School of the Pacific
Church Divinity School of the Pacific is one of the eleven seminaries of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is located in Berkeley, California, and is a member of the Graduate Theological Union...
, given in recognition of his contributions to Sacred Music. In 1977 he received first prizes in both Organ Performance and in Organ Improvisation from the International Congress of Organists, being the only person to ever win both prizes in the same year.
Dr. Hurd has held several church staff positions including Assistant Organist, Trinity Church
Trinity Church, New York
Trinity Church at 79 Broadway, Lower Manhattan, is a historic, active parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of New York...
, and Director of Music at both the Church of the Intercession and All Saints' Church, both in Manhattan. His mass
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
setting Intercession Mass is used by many congregations across the United States. With over 100 choral and organ works in print, his compositions have appeared in numerous recordings in both the United States and England. Dr. Hurd is regularly sought out by congregations and organizations seeking to commission new anthems and organ works. Significant premieres have included: "Gloria, gloria," for 4-part choir and instrumental accompaniment, commissioned by the Boy's Choir of Harlem, and premiered at Avery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall is a concert hall, in New York City and is part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex. It is the home of the New York Philharmonic, with a capacity of 2,738 seats.-History:...
; "O the Depth of Love Divine," for 4-part choir, brass and organ, commissioned by The Rt. Rev. Neil Alexander, Bishop of Atlanta, and premiered at his consecration; and "Arioso & Final" for organ, commissioned by the Queens Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
American Guild of Organists
The American Guild of Organists, or AGO, is a national organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the U.S., headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City. It was founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization...
. The most recent major work is "Sonata for Saxophone and Organ," commissioned by the Hall-Powers Duo, and premiered in Ljubljana, Slovenia at the International Saxophone Congress in 2006.
Dr. Hurd's sacred compositions can be found in many hymnal
Hymnal
Hymnal or hymnary or hymnbook is a collection of hymns, i.e. religious songs, usually in the form of a book. The earliest hand-written hymnals are known since Middle Ages in the context of European Christianity...
s, including the Episcopal Hymnal, 1982. David Hurd is also one of the world's most visible and successful Classical Organists who is African-American.