A Great Loss

            My dear friend Robert Sutherland Lord died this week.   It would be impossible to honor his life to the extent that his remarkable talent needs to be extolled.  He was an elegant organist who played for services throughout my ministry at Christ Church in Pittsburgh and directed our choir.  He also was the University Organist at the University of Pittsburgh and played the Heinz Chapel organ for many, many weddings and other occasions.  I officiated at some of the weddings that took place in that remarkable monument. 

            He conducted our choir with great beauty.  Every Good Friday, the choir would sing the Gabriel Faure Requiem, which is an elegant piece of music and a great way for us to observe this solemn occasion.  Bob’s musical discernment was always appropriate for our worship and helped us all get closer to our Savior.   

            What I remember most about Bob was his humility.  He was a scholar of incredible scope, knowing more than anyone about the music of Jean Langlais and Charles Tournemire, about whom he published extensively.  Bob had an exceptional ability to create improvisations on the organ that were frequently times of wonder.  I can remember moments when Bob would improvise during the distribution of the elements at communion on themes that I had raised in my sermon.  Often he would touch me deeply with these intimate and subtle musical treats. 

            Every Christmas, Bob and Martha would host a choir party at their home.  This was always a very happy occasion.  Martha loved to cook and her kitchen was always full of not only choir members, but with awesome creations that would grace the table for what was always a bountiful feast.  Bob had an organ in his living room and would play for us and the choir would sing in what became for us all a highlight of that deeply meaningful season. 

            I will miss him greatly, not only his music, but his personality.  God bless him in his eternal life with the God whom he loved so very much.