Page 39 - Church Music Quarterly June 2018

BoththeWABrancho RSCMandOSWA wereimmeasurablyenrichedbytheenergy andloveo musicthatradiated romDudley Bastian. His wi e Beverley died some years ago; he leaves behind one daughter and three sons.
John Beaverstock an Dr Bill Loneragan
PETER BEBINGTON
One o South A rica’s great church musicians, Peter Bebington, died suddenly andunexpectedlyattheageo 78inCape Town in January 2018, having been diagnosed with cancer in early December.
Peter studied the organ in Port Elizabeth be ore quali ying as a chartered accountant. Hethenbecamea ull-timestudentatthe RSCM’sCollegeo StNicholas,Addington Palaceandserved oratimeasassistant organist at St Augustine, Kilburn in north London. He returned to Johannesburg tobecomedirectoro musicatStMary’s Cathedral in 1972, where he developed
the music to a high standard.
While at the cathedral, Peter was appointedaSpecialCommissionero the RSCM by Addington Palace and served on the RSCM (South A rica Northern Branch) Committee orsome15years.Itwaslargely through his e orts that the RSCM in Johannesburg and Pretoria broadened the scopeo thematerial orone-dayschools that, until then, had comprised only a
hand ul o hymns and chants and perhaps averysimpleanthem.Hisabilitytomotivate largegroupso singersandtoweldthem quickly into well-drilled ensembles, while keeping a tight balance between excellent music-making and having un, made Peter
a sought-a ter director or major estivals. Beside being active in the RSCM, he was alsoaccompanist ortheJohannesburg
Bach Choir and regularly played the organ at St John’s College whenever a skilled accompanistwasrequired ortheir large-scale oratorios and productions
o complexchoralmusic.
Peter spent his later years in retirement inCapeTownwhere,havingrunthemusic
or some years at the Metropolitan Methodist Church, he deputized at many churches across the Cape Peninsula. He was a lovely man, sel -deprecating about his own prowess as an organist (though he was an accomplished recitalist and accompanist) while being dedicatedtothehigheststandardso
per ormance in singing or playing. He had aninectiouslaughandastoreo hilarious anecdotes especially about his time at Addington during the late 1960s as well
as his early days at St Mary’s under the redoubtable Dean Gonville rench-Beytagh. DrRoyMassey,whotutoredPeterduring
histimeatAddington,saysthiso him: ‘Hewasoneo thosemagnifcentproducts
o theRSCMatAddingtonPalacewho haveenrichedtheworldo churchmusic internationally,andagreatcharacterwho was an absolute delight to work with. He will be sorely missed by all o us who had the privilege o knowing him.
Si neyPlacean PatrickHo son
PETER GODFREY
The death o Peter God rey (1922–2017) brings sorrow to all who knew him, but his gi t to our choral world ensures that his legacy lives on in countless singing voices, and in choral music’s remarkable place in New Zealand’s arts story.
Since his arrival with his amily in Auckland in 1958 to join the music sta Auckland University, Peter made an indelible mark on music throughout New Zealand.
A ter 15 years as a lecturer, he became a
pro essor in 1974. During his teaching career, his infuence on countless music students was immense. As Paul Ellis (President o RSCM New Zealand) recalls: ‘[Peter’s] innate intelligence and musical pro essionalism, his acute ear and his charisma brought choral music to new heights in this country. He possessed extraordinary generosity in hisencouragemento youngmusiciansand in championing the work o up-and-coming New Zealand composers. Many established musicians owe their success today to
his motivation.’
Having begun his musical li e as a choristeratKing’sCollege,Cambridge,
Peter was never ar away rom church music, and always said that it was his frst love. During his frst 16 years in Auckland, he
was director o music at Auckland Cathedral o St Mary and Holy Trinity, and, a ter his retirement rom the university and move
to Wellington, he became director o music at Wellington Cathedral o St Paul.
A ter retiring rom ull-time work, he continued his work with choirs and was appointed music director o Wellington’s Orpheus Choir, which he conducted rom 1984 to 1991. He established two choirs on theKapitiCoast,theKapitiChoralewhich he conducted until 2004 and the Kapiti Chamber Choir which he led until 2006. He then began a choir at St Michael, Waikanae, and in very recent years took agroupo singersattheretirement village where he lived.
PeterwashonouredtwicebyHerMajesty The Queen, in 1978 with an MBE and 10 years laterwithaCBE.TheGovernmentrecognized his contribution to music with an Arts Foundation Icon Award in 2005. His gi t to the New Zealand choral world over so many decades will remain with us: the almost immeasurablejoyo singingwonderul musicinwonderulchoirs.
Ju yBerryman
PETER MOORSE
PeterMoorse(1930–2018)wasaninspirational teacher,renownedorganist,conductor, composer, academic and champion o church music. His teaching career started at Repton School, a ter which he taught at Goldsmiths College, becoming a senior lecturer and Directoro PracticalStudies.Inalongcareer in church music, Peter held posts including sub-organist o Guild ord Cathedral, director o music at Maidstone Parish Church, assistant at St Martin-in-the-Fields, and director o music at St John’s Wood Church. He also ounded and was musical director
o the London Cantata Choir.
Peter was involved or many years
with the RSCM, acting as housemaster anddirector ormanychoristercourses. In 1984 he was asked to direct the prestigious week-long adult summer course at Salisbury Cathedral and invited metobehisorganist,thenand ora subsequent three glorious years.
Peterwasrightlyproudo thesuccess
o theLondonCantataChoir.Perormances blossomed and the choir started a regular roundo Englishcathedralvisits,including St Paul’s, Canterbury, Salisbury, Norwich, Derby,Gloucester,Hereord,Westminster Abbey and York Minster. Many per ormances wereo worksbylivingcomposerswho becamegood riends.Perormanceswere electric – thunder and lightning mixed
with spring sunshine – no other choir sang quiteliketheLCC,thanksin ulltoPeter.
Many people were touched by Peter’s love and attention over many years; we will reward him by keeping these thoughts alive and continuing to make music in
his memory. He deserves nothing less.
Gary Sieling
WILLIAM EDWARD (TED) JOHNSON
Ted Johnson died peace ully in February 2018 at the age o 95. He was elected as secretary to the Hali ax Archdeaconry Committeeo theRSCMWakefeldDiocesan Area at its inaugural meeting in January 1968.Heservedassecretary orexactly
20 years, during which the committee was active in arranging events in the Area. He will be remembered or his quiet and unassuming e fciency in this role, and perhaps also by many choristers who took part as children
in the annual swimming gala, where he wasinchargeo theraces.Heremainedan active committee member when the two archdeaconrycommitteesmergedto orm the current Wakefeld Area, only retiring
a ew years ago when travelling became
di fcult. He was awarded a Certifcate
o Special Service by the RSCM (presented in2008)inrecognitiono hisworkwith theRSCMandlocalchurches.
Te Lockwoo
at
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