Death of a US composer, 65
RIPThe choral composer James Primosch is being mourned by churches and vocal ensembles, along with the wider music community and the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught.
Among many commissions, Primosch wrote the song cycle Holy the Firm for Dawn Upshaw and Secret Geometry for piano and electronics. His affection for jazz is reflected in works like the Piano Quintet, while his work as a church musician informs the many pieces in his catalog based on sacred songs or religious texts.
This is devastating. How can this happen to someone like Jim? That he wrote such exquisite music inspired by his faith is just the most visible reason to ask that question. As sublime as his vocal music is, it’s certain that the best was yet to come.
But so is his other music. Go to his website, listen to his music, read his blog. He was such a benefit to the world of music, musicians, audiences, his students, assuredly his family; these last two have suffered such an irreplaceable loss. The heart breaks.
But his memory will live on, and his music will live on even longer.