From Child Prodigy to Master Teacher Anthony Di Bonaventura, a CFA Pianist, Was a Figure of International Stature in the Music World
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FACULTY OBITUARIES From Child Prodigy to Master Teacher Anthony di Bonaventura, a CFA pianist, was a figure of international stature in the music world By Laurel Homer !"#$%"& '( )%"*- major orchestras and +,"#-.*, a College conductors of the of Fine Arts professor world. He appeared of music in the School in the Great Perform- of Music, died on No- ers series at New York’s v ember 12, 2012. He Lincoln Center and was 83. at such major music “We are deeply festivals as Saratoga, saddened by the Ann Arbor, Bergen passing of our be - (Norway), Spoleto loved Professor and Lucca (Italy), di Bonaventura,” says and Zagreb (Croatia). CFA Dean Benjamín And his recordings Juárez. “A major for Columbia, RCA, figure in the music Connoisseur Society, world since his debut and Sine Qua Non as a child prodigy, have consistently Tony enriched the received high acclaim. School of Music His releases include with his passionate three compact discs commitment to on the Titanic label, musical excellence consisting of 14 Scar- o Acknowledged man School of Music, the music, to be honest, and his advocacy of latti sonatas, the as a master Brigham Young Uni- to be humble.” new music by such com plete Preludes, teacher of versity, North Carolina At the Graz Festival international luminaries as Ligeti, op. 32, of Rachma- School of the Arts, in Austria in fall 1986, stature, Anthony Berio, Ginastera, and ninoff, and an all- di Bonaventura the University of di Bonaventura gave Persichetti, all of Chopin recording of was awarded Toronto, the Univer- the world premiere whom wrote music his late works. the Metcalf Cup sity of Texas, Tulane performance of György for him.” Acknowledged as and Prize for University, and the Ligeti’s Concerto Excellence in In addition to a master teacher of Teaching, BU’s Yamaha School of for Piano, written his position at BU, international stature, highest teaching Singapore. especially for him, and di Bonaventura di Bonaventura was award, in 1992. “He was interested thereafter performed was director of awarded the Metcalf in every student as a the concerto in Vien- the Brandywine Cup and Prize for person, and I had nev- na, Paris, London, International Piano Excellence in Teaching, er seen that before,” St. Louis, and New Institute at West Boston University’s Konstantinos Papa- York’s Carnegie Chester University highest teaching dakis (CFA’00) told Hall. Other world- of Pennsylvania. award, in 1992. He the Boston Globe. “He renowned composers He performed in 27 gave master classes at wanted us to be good, who have written countries, playing in UCLA, the University healthy, curious human expressly for him are recital and with the of Michigan, the East- beings, to do justice to Luciano Berio, Vin- !" BOSTONIA Summer 2013 PHOTOGRAPH!BY!FRED!SWAY Max Burdorf Miller Inspired cent Persichetti, Milko Keleman, and Alberto the BU Community Ginastera, whose Sec- ond Sonata was given CFA professor also was director of music at Marsh Chapel its world premiere by di Bonaventura in 1982. 0*1 )-.'%.2 0(33,. (GRS’55) served In 1991, he premiered on the faculties of the College of Fine Max Miller was dedicated to his Witold Lutoslawski’s Arts and the School of Theology for 42 role as director Piano Concerto in years, until his retirement in 1991. He of music at the Netherlands, was simultaneously University organist, Marsh Chapel. with the composer director of music at Marsh Chapel, director conducting, followed of the Master of Sacred Music (MSM) by performances of program, conductor of the Seminary the work with the Singers, and a CFA School of Music Boston Symphony professor emeritus of organ. He inspired Orchestra, the Polish many at Boston University, not only with National Radio Sym- joy and laugh ter, but also with musical phony, and the San artistry and erudition. For decades Miller, a fellow of the Amer- Francisco Symphony, Miller died on January 5, 2013. He ican Guild of Organists, was in demand on the occasion of was 85. as a workshop presenter at organists’ the composer’s 80th He earned bachelor’s and master’s conventions. And for many years he wrote birthday, in 1993. degrees from the University of Redmond the column “Ask Uncle Max” for the Di Bonaventura and a PhD from Boston University. American Organist, the guild’s national began his piano studies He began his study of the organ in publication. His columns were always at the age of 3 and gave his native California. While studying the perfect blend of erudition and good his first professional Arnold Schoenberg’s difficult Variations musical sense. Overspecialization, however concert at 4. He won on a Recitative, he was coached by the attractive it might be in today’s academe, a scholarship to New composer, and he published a reminis- did not appeal to Miller. His interests were York’s Music School cence of this encounter. A copy is kept in wide, encompassing theology, literature, Settlement at 6 and the Arnold Schoenberg Archives in Vienna. and much more. appeared as a soloist Miller and his wife, Betty, lived in But his knowledge of the organ reper- with the New York Vienna for several years while he studied toire was especially impressive. He was Philharmonic at 13. with the eminent Austrian virtuoso, the guiding spirit in the founding of STH’s At 16, di Bonaventura teacher, and composer Anton Heiller. Organ Library, which has become one became the pupil of He taught organ not only to those of the largest collections of organ music the celebrated Russian majoring in the instrument, but also in the world and is accessible through a teacher Ma dame Isa- to those studying in the MSM program. searchable database. The Organ Library belle Venge rova and For Miller, every student was his stu- awards the biennial Max B. Miller Prize later entered the Cur- dent, whether they could play the most to outstand ing books devoted to organ tis Institute of Music, difficult of Reger’s Phantasien or more literature and performance. graduating with high- modest repertoire. He guided all of them On the occasion of his 70th birthday, a est honors. to dev elop their musicality to the highest group of his students presented Miller with Acclaim by critics and level possible. an informal Festschrift as a testimony to audiences came early in Miller was also dedicated to his role their affection. The contributions ranged his career. His brilliant as church musician. He rehearsed in from the scholarly to the whimsical. One performances in an the chapel choir weekly and conducted of his students created a “diploma” that early European tour led every Sunday service. The high quality concluded with the following ditty: to his selection by the of preparation and presentation, accom- The organ’s firm foundation is not its reed great conductor Otto panied by Miller’s endearing personality, or flutes; Klemperer to perform created a wonderful community. Those It is our Max B. Miller, who makes the pipes the complete Beethoven relationships are commemorated in his all toot. Concerti at the London 1984 hymn tune, “Marsh Chapel,” which At Marsh he came to teach us. The ciphers did relax. Beethoven Festival. appears in hymnals in the United States We wish you joy and laughter. Laurel Homer is director and Canada. Over the years, his chapel Happy retirement, Max! of communications at the assistants enjoyed a unique apprentice- College of Fine Arts. ship in how to run a choir rehearsal and This tribute was compiled by CFA, STH, and in the fine art of service playing. Marsh Chapel colleagues. Summer 2013 BOSTONIA !!.