Welcome to A Tribute to Richard Westenburg

A memorial service, full of music, in celebration of the life of Richard Westenburg took place on Saturday, May 31, 2008, at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. It was attended by roughly 500 of Richard’s closest friends. The celebration continued at a reception in the Parish Hall following the service.

During the service, more than 80 members and alumni of the Musica Sacra Chorus sang several works, including Charles Ives’s “Abide with Me”, Heinrich Schutz’s “Selig sind die Toten”, Bach’s “Gratias Agimus Tibi” from the Mass in B Minor and “Ruht Wohl” from the St. John Passion. The chorus was joined in this last piece by a number of other singers who had sung with Richard in other capacities. Daniel Beckwith, Head of Opera Studies, Westminster Choir College of Rider University, accompanied the chorus.

Dave Brubeck and his son, Chris, played two pieces from Dave Brubeck’s “Mass to Hope: A Celebration”; Anthony Newman played Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in E-flat Major (the “St. Anne”); and John Weaver capped off the service with the postlude: his own “For all the Saints,” a synthesis of the familiar hymn tune and “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Perhaps most stunning, in a service that was completely stunning from beginning to end, was the congregational hymn singing. Most of those present were accomplished singers, and the hymns were sung out to the rafters in glorious four-part harmony.

Musica Sacra thanks Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church for the use of the church’s facilities, its pastor, The Rev. Dr. Fred R. Anderson, for his kindness in working closely with the family and Musica Sacra to put this service together, and its music director, Dr. Andrew E. Henderson for the preludes, interlude, and marvelous hymn playing.

Over the many years of his career, Dick Westenburg touched the lives of countless people: many times that of the average person. We know that many of you would like to have a hand in an ongoing tribute to him. Whether you have a memory to share, comments, or observations, we encourage you to leave them here with us, for all to read. To leave your thoughts and read those of others, please click the “comments” link below.