Richard Hillert
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In any established society, there exists a core group of competent leaders, consisting of people who spearhead movements and implement them with high- quality, enduring programs and creative works. The Lutheran community of musicians is a notable example of his. Among its leaders is Dr. Richard Hillert, distinguished professor of music emeritus at Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois.
Dr. Hillert was born in 1923. He received the bachelor's degree from Concordia College, River Forest, in 1951, and master of music and doctor of music degrees from Northwestern University.
Dr. Hillert served as parish teacher and musician in parishes in Missouri and Wisconsin from 1951 to 1959, acquiring a profound understanding of popular worship at the grassroots level--developing insights that later lead to many effective works for the people's song. He was a professor at his alma mater from 1959 through 1990, where he taught courses in music theory, composition, and twentieth-century music, and served as director of graduate studies in church music.
Dr. Hillert's numerous compositions include choral, chamber, and orchestral works, as well as music for piano and for organ. Over three hundred of his works have been published, with a dozen of them in GIA's catalog. Numerous hymns and hymn settings appear in American hymnals, including four items in Worship--Third Edition.
He was music editor of Worship Supplement (1969) and served as music editor for Lutheran Book of Worship (1978), for which Dr. Hillert wrote Setting One of Holy Communion, several canticles, service music, hymn tunes, and settings.
Richard Hillert's compositions are widely sung and played in parishes large and small of many denominations throughout the world. His works are characterized by solid construction, enduring melodies, and fresh harmonic sounds. With such successful musical language, it is no wonder that Dr. Hillert has rightfully taken an important place among the leaders in music and worship in the Lutheran Church. Because of that, all Christian churches have benefited.