The Reverend Dr. Charles S. Brown
The Rev. Dr. Charles S. Brown, 86, died July 14. He was born August 27, 1938. Brown earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey, and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees and the Performers Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York. He was a Fulbright scholar to Vienna, Austria, where he studied with Anton Heiller and Isolde Ahlgrim.
Following his studies abroad, he served as university organist at Arizona State University, Tempe, for three years, before becoming professor of organ and harpsichord at the University of North Texas (UNT), Denton. In addition to his teaching legacy, Brown pursued graduate studies in theater at UNT and Texas Woman’s University, Denton. After graduating from Brite Divinity School, Fort Worth, Texas, he was ordained into the ministry of the United Church of Christ (UCC) and served as pastor of St. Paul United Church of Christ, Corpus Christi, Texas. Among several projects, Brown explored the meeting of music, theater, and theology as constituting a “trifocal” view of the origins and practice of Christian worship.
Rev. Brown enjoyed a long career teaching harpsichord and organ at the University of North Texas. He served the American Guild of Organists as dean and education projects coordinator of the Dallas Chapter, and national councilor for education. He was active as a church organist and choirmaster, organ recitalist, amateur actor, playwright, and researcher of early music. His play, Mon Cousin, in which he played Johann Walther, was presented over the years to many musical groups. He served as founder and director of the Denton Bach Society. Upon retirement as a minister, Brown moved back to Dallas, briefly teaching a course in sacred music at the University of North Texas.
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