Background
Hancock, Gerre Edward was born on February 21, 1934 in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Son of Ervin Edward and Flake (Steger) Hancock.
('The plain truth is that all musicians are capable of spl...)
'The plain truth is that all musicians are capable of splendid improvisation.' With this premise, the author, (organist at St Thomas Church, 5th Avenue, New York) leads the student step by step. His language is informal, articulate, and encouraging, and the many lively exercises are clear and clean.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IWZXHUA/?tag=2022091-20
(Gerre Hancock has long been renowned for his extraordinar...)
Gerre Hancock has long been renowned for his extraordinary improvisations, and has for many years taught the art of improvisation at classes and workshops across the United States. Now he has codified and organized his teaching into a book which carries the organist from the scale through the fugue, covering on the way interludes, hymns, hymn preludes, sonata form, canon, and more. Written in an informal style and illustrated with musical examples and exercises, this book opens wide the door to musical and technical skill.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0193858819/?tag=2022091-20
('The plain truth is that all musicians are capable of spl...)
'The plain truth is that all musicians are capable of splendid improvisation.' With this premise, the author, (organist at St Thomas Church, 5th Avenue, New York) leads the student step by step. His language is informal, articulate, and encouraging, and the many lively exercises are clear and clean.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FKYDHDS/?tag=2022091-20
Hancock, Gerre Edward was born on February 21, 1934 in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Son of Ervin Edward and Flake (Steger) Hancock.
A recipient of a Rotary Foundation Fellowship, he also studied in Paris at the Sorbonne and during this time was a finalist at the Munich International Music Competitions. His textbook, Improvising: How to Master the Art, also published by Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, is studied by organists throughout the United States. Hancock studied organ with East. William Doty, Robert Baker, Jean Langlais, and Marie-Claire Alain, and improvisation with Nadia Boulanger and Searle Wright (1918–2004).
Hancock was Professor of Organ and Sacred Music at the University of Texas at Austin. He died of cardiac arrest in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, January 21, 2012. Hancock"s compositions are published by Oxford University Press (Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK).
He served on the faculty of The Juilliard School in New York City and taught improvisation on a visiting basis at the Institute of Sacred Music, Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, and The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New New York
In 1981, he was appointed a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music and in 1995 was appointed a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. Hancock received honorary Doctor of Music degrees from the Nashotah House Seminary and The University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee.
In May 2004 he was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree (Honoris causa) from The General Theological Seminary in New New York He is listed in “Who’s Who in America,” and his biography appears in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd edition
In 2004 he was honored in a ceremony at Lambeth Palace in London where he was presented the Medal of the Cross of Saint Augustine by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In May 2009, Hancock was made Doctor of Music (Honoris causa) at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. In June 2010, Doctor Hancock was presented the International Performer of the Year Award by the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. This is viewed by many as the most distinguished award that the American Guild of Organists bestows upon its colleagues. A featured recitalist and lecturer at numerous regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists and at national conventions of the Guild in Philadelphia, Cleveland, Boston, Washington District of Columbia, Detroit, Houston and New York City, Hancock also represented the AGO as recitalist at the Centenary Anniversary of the Royal College of Organists in London.
Hancock was heard in recital in many cities throughout the United States and worldwide.
His compositions for organ and chorus are widely performed. He recorded for Gothic Records, Decca/Argo, Koch International and Priory Records, both as a conductor of The Saint Thomas Choir and as a soloist.
(Gerre Hancock has long been renowned for his extraordinar...)
('The plain truth is that all musicians are capable of spl...)
('The plain truth is that all musicians are capable of spl...)
Served with United States Army, 1956-1958. Fellow Royal School Church Music, American Guild Organists (past member council, Distinguished International Performer of Year, 2010), Royal College Organists (honorary). Member Association Anglican Musicians (founder, past president), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (past president), Pi Kappa Lambda.
Clubs: St. Wilfrid (New York City) (president 1973-1974).
Married Judith Duffield Eckerman, July 22, 1961. Children: Deborah, Lisa.