Lynn, George

Lynn, George, American choral conductor, organist, teacher, and composer; b. Edwardsville, Pa., Oct. 5, 1915; d. Colorado Springs, Colo., March 16, 1989. He was a student of Weinrich (organ), Williamson (conducting), and Harris (composition) at Westminster Choir Coll. in Princeton, N.J. (B.Mus., 1938) and of Thompson (composition) at Princeton Univ. (M.F.A., 1947). He was active as an organist and music director in various churches in N.J., Calif., Pa., Colo., and N.C. Lynn served as prof. of choral arts at Westminster Choir Coll. (1946–50) and at the Univ. of Colo. (1950–52). From 1963 to 1969 he was music director of the Westminster Choir. In 1971 he was visiting composer-in-residence at the Univ. of N.Mex. He subsequently was prof. of choral arts at the Colo. School of Mines (1971–80), Loretto Heights Coll. (1971–86), and Rice Univ. (1986–87). Lynn composed in a tonal idiom with a strong modal character. Rhythmic variation was indicative of his style and provided a firm foundation for his long melodic lines.

Works

dramatic Opera: The Violinden Tree (1960); From Time to Time (1962). orch.: Piano Concerto (1962); 2 syms. (1964, 1966). chamber: 5 string quartets; works for Violin and Piano, Clarinet and Piano, etc.; over 100 piano pieces. vocal:Gettysburg Address for Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1941); Greek Folk Song Rhapsody for Contralto, Chorus, and Orch. (1958); 3 sacred syms. for Chorus (1959, I960, 1962); Second Inaugural for Chorus and Orch. (1961); Markings for Soprano, Men’s Chorus, and Orch. (1969); settings of e.e. cummings for Chorus (1984); 2 cantatas: Under the Shadow for Chorus, Brass, and Organ (1985) and The Scandal of Christ for Soloists, Chorus, and Organ (1986); many other choral pieces; over 100 songs; arrangements.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire