In the early and mid-twentieth century, Leo Sowerby (1895–1968) was championed as one of the leading composers of American church music. Sowerby exhibited a musical language that was and largely still is his own. His use of harmonic movement and voice leading make for a repertoire of choral music that does not always follow tonal conventions yet is smooth and comfortable for singers.
A new and compelling walk through The Well-Tempered Clavier
J. S. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I. Matthew Dirst, harpsichordist. Acis Productions 2-CD set, APL 54117, $29.99, with digital downloads at various prices. Available from acisproductions.com.
John P. Anthony, 81, died August 9, 2024, in New London, Connecticut. He was born September 17, 1942. Growing up in Arkansas, he began organ studies in high school and continued them at the University of Arkansas, where he majored in music and French, and at Yale University while pursuing a Ph.D. degree in music history and literature, completing a dissertation on Johann Christian Kittel.