Successful Granton Composer Passes

Richard Hillert (1923-2010)

Richard Hillert, 86, originally of Granton, passed away at his home Feb. 18, after a successful career as a church music composer.

Hillert’s “Worthy Is Christ,” with its antiphon, “This is the Feast of Victory,” was written for the “Lutheran Book of Worship,” published in 1978.  Known to millions of Christians simply as “This is the Feast,” the canticle is widely published in over 30 worship books of many denominations and sung weekly in worship services around the world.

A well-loved teacher of composition, Hillert was Distinguished Professor of Music at Concordia University, River Forest, IL, from 1959 until 1993.

Hillert was born in Granton, March 14, 1923.  He attended parochial and public schools and worked on the family farm near Granton until age 27.  His parents were Richard and Amelia (Trimberger) Hillert.

In 1947, Hillert enrolled at Concordia Teachers College in River Forest (now Concordia University Chicago), where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.  He served as a teacher and music director for parishes in St. Louis, MO, Wausau, WI, Chicago, IL, and Westchester, IL.

Hillert received a Master of Music (1955) and a Doctor of Music (1968) in composition from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.  He also studied composition with Italian composer, Goffredo Petrassi, at Aaron Copland’s Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood, MA.

Hillert’s career as a teacher at Concordia spanned four decades from 1959 to 1993.  During this time, he taught classes in music theory and composition, music literature, 20^th century music, orchestration, keyboard instruction, comparative arts and liturgical worship.

As a composer, Hillert wrote liturgical pieces and hymns and served as music editor for “Worship Supplement” (1969) and “Lutheran Book of Worship” (1978).  Among his most frequently performed liturgical works for congregation is Setting One of Holy Communion, which appears in “Lutheran Book of Worship” and “Lutheran Worship” (1982), which includes “Worthy Is Christ.”   The piece is one of the hymns in most major mainline denominational hymn books published in the last 30 years.  It is also included in the liturgical portions of the recent hymnals “Evangelical Lutheran Worship” (2006) and “Lutheran Service Book” (2006).  Other major liturgical works include a setting of “Evening Prayer” (1984) and a “Eucharistic Festival Liturgy” (1983).

In 1987, “We Rely on the Power of God” was sung in the Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II in Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ.  The pope included the text in his sermon.

Hillert wrote the tune to the hymn, “Amid the World’s Bleak Wilderness,” and named the tune “Granton” after his birth-place.  The hymn is published in the hymnals “Lutheran Book of Worship” (1978) and “Lutheran Worship” (1982).

His compositions and publication include liturgical music for congregation, choral motets, hymns, hymn anthems, psalm settings, organ works, concertatos and cantatas, including settings of the “Christmas Story According to St. Luke” and “The passion According to Saint John.”  His liturgical texts were derived mainly from the Biblical Psalms, the ordinary and proper readings from the Old and New testaments, and words from the historic liturgy of the Western Church.  Non-liturgical compositions include symphonic works for orchestra, chamber works for small orchestra and ensembles as well as many works for keyboard, instrumental solos and songs.

Hillert also wrote major organ works, including “Ricercata”, and concert works with sacred texts, such as “Five Canticles from the Exodus” (1958) and “Seven Psalms of Grace (1998).  Hillert also wrote love songs and music from unusual texts, such as advertising copy, just for the fun of it.

Hillert served in various capacities in the music department at Concordia, including chair in 1964-65 and from 1986-89, coordinator of the Master of Church Music program, and associate editor of the journal “Church Music” (1966-80).  He received honorary Doctor of Letters degrees from Concordia University at Seward, NE in 2000, and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, in 2001.  In 2002, he received an honorary Doctor of Sacred Music Degree from Valparaiso University.

He authored numerous scholarly articles and reviews for the periodicals “Church Music, Cross-Accent, and Currents in Theology and Mission,” and other professional books and journals. Richard enjoyed his role as mentor and friend to his former students, many of whom have careers as practicing church musicians, elementary and secondary school teachers, and teachers in higher education, music editors and publishers, and composers.  He was an honorary life member of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.

Hillert also applied his creative energy to painting.  He enjoyed the work of 20^th century artists as much as he did 20^th century musicians.

Richard met Gloria Bonnin in 1959, when both became professors at Concordia. They were married Aug. 20, 1960.  They lived in Melrose Park, IL, and have three children: Kathryn (Brewer) of Oak Park, IL, Virginia Hillert of River Grove, IL, and Jonathan Hillert of Houston, TX.  They have five grandchildren.

Richard and Gloria traveled widely, including cruises and vacations to all seven continents. As Richard traveled the world, so has his music.  People throughout the world have been blessed by his quiet witness and his music, which reaches many more people than he ever expected.  His influence continues through the multitudes of students, musicians and worshiping Christians with whom he shared his gifts.

An entire generation of worshiping Christians has expressed its faith and sung its praise through the music of Hillert.  His gift of singable music enables worshippers to find their voice so they, singing with all the people of God, may ‘join in the hymn of all creation.’