Dr. Horace Clarence Boyer (1935-2009)
BCMMP mourns the loss of friend and mentor, Dr. Horace Clarence Boyer. Dr. Boyer was a consummate performer, esteemed scholar and exemplary educator. He was one of this nation’s leading scholars on Gospel Music and in many ways aided in creating the wave of interest that the field has seen in the past thirty years. Dr. Boyer was a kind hearted, compassionate and genteel soul who used music to aid in presenting the gospel to people around the world. He was a champion and tremendous exemplar on how to effectively use music as a tool to spread love, peace and joy.
Read more about Dr. Boyer here.
As one of the first (if not the first) African Americans to receive a Ph.D. in music theory, Dr. Boyer was well known for his expertise in analyzing spirituals, hymns and gospel songs (as well as other genres of music including concert music). Analysis, however was not his claim to fame, Dr. Boyer was an internationally renown chorale clinician and very best at presenting lecture-demonstrations of religious music. He will be forever known around the world for his exceptional grasp of the intellectual, emotional, theological, cultural, socio-political and performance aspects of the music he loved so much. The audience at the 2006 joint conference of the Center for Black Music Research (CBMR) and the Society for American Music (SAM) was simply mesmerized by Dr. Boyer’s analysis and performance of “How I Got Over (Herbert Brewster) and “I’ll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley).” Not only was there not a dry eye in Grand Ballroom A of Chicago’s Westin Hotel, but the spirit of God moved in ways previously unseen at an academic conference. That performance could only be topped by the performance later in the conference by Dr. Boyer and his brother/ musical partner from childhood, Dr. James Boyer as they performed some of the great spirituals and hymns of all time while playing musical chairs. One would start out on piano while both sang, then they would switch positions with fluid execution with the full richness of the great heritage and legacy of the Black Church. Dr. Boyer will be sorely missed.
Many scholars around the country and the world are grateful and indebted to Dr. Boyer. Scholars, pastors, musicians, and lay people alike, benefited from his kind, giving spirit as well as his consistent encouragement and nurturing. We thank God for the gift and blessing of Dr. Horace Clarence Boyer and continue to pray for Mrs. Gloria Boyer and the entire Boyer Family.
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Emmett G. Price III, Ph.D. is president and founder of the Black Church Music Ministry Project. BCMMP aims to “serve, nurture and develop spiritual leaders within music ministry.” For additional information please visit http://www.BCMMP.org or contact us via email at info@BCMMP.org.
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