Donald Hustad
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Donald Paul Hustad (October 2, 1918 – June 22, 2013) was a recognized leader in evangelical church music for six decades. Although he was an esteemed musician, composer, and teacher, Hustad's richest legacy resides in his informed criticism of evangelical church music and his well-developed philosophy of worship communicated through lectures, articles, and books.


Early life


Family

Born to Peter and Clara Hustad on October 2, 1918, in
Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Yellow Medicine County is a County (United States), county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its eastern border is formed by the Minnesota River. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 9,528. ...
, Hustad was a toddler when his father was killed in a hunting accident. Clara moved with her two sons to
Boone, Iowa Boone ( ) is a city in Des Moines Township, Boone County, Iowa, Des Moines Township, and county seat of Boone County, Iowa, United States. It is the principal city of the Boone, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Boone ...
, where they lived in a church-related institution for indigent people. While the extremely conservative religious environment was repressive, the institution provided Hustad with unique music and work opportunities. His formal music training began with piano lessons at the age of four, and when he was eight he was playing gospel hymns in public worship and providing improvised accompaniments for the institution's Christian radio station. By the end of
grade school A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school, or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ...
he had learned
Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He is one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire ...
’s "Pathetique" Sonata, Opus 13, and
Liszt Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic period. With a diverse body of work spanning more than six decades, he is considered to be one of the most pro ...
’s transcription of the second Hungarian Rhapsody. Early in his career, Hustad married Ruth McKeag. Hustad credited Ruth with supporting his career, as she devoted her life to her husband and children. Ruth's roles as secretary and research assistant were also significant, aiding Hustad in his writing and composition projects.


Early influences

The basic tenets of Hustad’s Christian faith were established while he was a child and later enriched by theological study. During his youth, he enjoyed listening to lawyers defend their cases at the local courthouse, and he developed an admiration for logic and debate. His later desire to construct a philosophy of church music that could withstand the rigors of liturgical and musicological debate stemmed from both his theological study and his interest in logical discourse. Hustad’s life was woven from these varied strands—a fragmented family unit, a conservative theological atmosphere, diverse musical styles, and learning opportunities afford by school, church, and local courtroom.


Career


Early career

Hustad’s musical skills provided the financial support needed during his undergraduate education at John Fletcher College near
Oskaloosa, Iowa Oskaloosa is a List of cities in Iowa, city in, and the county seat of, Mahaska County, Iowa. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Oskaloosa was a national center of bituminous coal mining. The population was 11,558 in the 2020 U ...
. In addition to directing the college band and leading a male quartet, he taught himself basic organ technique and became organist at First Methodist Church in Oskaloosa during his last year of school. After graduation in 1940, he moved to the Chicago area, where he was employed as a church organist and continued studies in piano and organ.


Radio broadcasts

Radio broadcasting consumed Hustad’s time and energy during his early career. He was hired by WMBI in Chicago as a staff musician.
George Beverly Shea George Beverly Shea (February 1, 1909 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea was often described as "America's beloved gospel singer"Michael Ireland, "America's 'Beloved Gospel Singer,' George Beve ...
recalled this encounter in his book, ''Then Sings My Soul'': "Another audition I remember was set up by Aunt Theresa
orman Orman may refer to: People *Aldona Orman (born 1968), Polish actress *Alen Orman (born 1978), Austrian football player *Charles Orman (1859–1927), British cricketer and soldier *Fikret Orman (born 1967), Turkish businessman *Greg Orman (born ...
who had a friend ‘who should be playing organ for WMBI.’ When we heard him play one number, we knew she was right. Don Hustad was hired on the spot." Hustad performed with featured soloist George Beverly Shea on Club Time, a program of hymns that aired weekly on the American Broadcasting Company radio network. His two-decade tenure as organist for the popular radio series, Songs in the Night, brought him other performing opportunities in the Chicago area. His responsibilities expanded beyond accompanying on piano and organ, to arranging, composing, conducting, producing programs and teaching. He completed a Master of Music degree in 1945 at
Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...
and held part-time teaching positions at Chicago Evangelistic Institute, Wheaton College, Olivet Nazarene College, and
Moody Bible Institute Moody Bible Institute (MBI) is a private evangelical Christian Bible college in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Historically, MBI has maintained positions that have identified it as ...
.


Moody Bible Institute

Hustad taught full-time at Olivet Nazarene College, and part-time at Chicago Evangelistic Institute, Wheaton College, and
Moody Bible Institute Moody Bible Institute (MBI) is a private evangelical Christian Bible college in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Historically, MBI has maintained positions that have identified it as ...
(MBI) before accepting a full-time appointment as Director of the Sacred Music Department at Moody Bible Institute in 1950. In addition to teaching conducting and working with the Moody Chorale (which achieved international fame under his leadership), he shifted his focus from teaching to administration. Hustad's philosophy of music education espoused the idea that music at a Bible college should be taught at essentially the same level as music at a conservatory. During his years at Moody, he pursued this goal by strengthening the curriculum and recruiting strong faculty.


Doctorate

Hustad enrolled in Northwestern University's doctoral program in the fall of 1955. His applied performance areas (organ, choral conducting, and service playing) together with his research projects (the choral works of
Ralph Vaughan Williams Ralph Vaughan Williams ( ; 12 October 1872– 26 August 1958) was an English composer. His works include operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions including nine symphonies, written over ...
and the organ works of
Paul Hindemith Paul Hindemith ( ; ; 16 November 189528 December 1963) was a German and American composer, music theorist, teacher, violist and conductor. He founded the Amar Quartet in 1921, touring extensively in Europe. As a composer, he became a major advo ...
) augmented his previous experience and training. Hustad's transition from Director of Music at MBI to full-time organist with the
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) is a non-profit Christian outreach organization that promotes multimedia evangelism, conducts evangelistic crusades, and engages in disaster response. The BGEA operates the Billy Graham Train ...
allowed him to complete his doctorate in 1963.


Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Although Hustad's relationship with the Graham team began in the 1940s, his full-time position as Crusade organist did not begin until 1961. His six years in this role also gave Hustad the opportunity to perform on outstanding instruments around the globe, conduct workshops, give lectures, prepare articles for publication, and create a network of friends and associates. Hustad was valued not only for his creative gifts as organist, but also for his knowledge of hymnody, theological insight, and spirit as a "team" member.


Music adviser for Hope Publishing Company

During his years at MBI and with the Graham team, Hustad had served as a musical advisor for Hope Publishing Company. Since the 1950s, Hope has published most of Hustad's choral, vocal, and keyboard compositions and arrangements. Hustad held the position of chief editorial consultant with Hope from 1950 to 1961, although his counsel as a musical advisor for the firm continued for three more decades. His knowledge of hymnody and his understanding of trends in church music helped to guide the development of Hope. Hustad's catalog includes over 100 octavos and many vocal and keyboard volumes. Among his editorial contributions are fourteen song books and hymnals, as well as dozens of collections.Paul A. Richardson and Timothy W. Sharp, editors, "Jubilate, Amen! A Festschrift in Honor of Donald Paul Hustad" (Hillsdale, NY: Pendragon Press, publication anticipated, October, 2008).


Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Hustad's twenty-year tenure with the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) is a Baptist theological institute in Louisville, Kentucky. The seminary was founded in 1859 in Greenville, South Carolina, where it was at first housed on the campus of Furman University. The s ...
began in 1966. This opportunity allowed him to teach courses that paralleled his wide array of interests and offered him flexibility to lecture and perform beyond the seminary. Sabbatical leaves provided time for major writing projects and further study. He also earned diplomas as an Associate of the
American Guild of Organists The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is an international organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the US, headquartered in New York City with its administrative offices in the Interchurch Center. Founded as a professional educa ...
(AAGO) and a Fellow of the
Royal College of Organists The Royal College of Organists (RCO) is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, with members worldwide. Its role is to promote and advance organ playing and choral music, and it offers music education, training and de ...
(FRCO), London. His retirement in December 1986 was in fact only semi-retirement, as he continued to teach courses and offer lectures at the seminary for the next two decades.


Publications

Beginning with his Moody years, Hustad regularly published articles articulating his insights on church music. Topics ranging from music and worship to gospel hymnody have appeared frequently through the decades. Although his philosophy of church music developed as he matured, its essence was apparent in his early career. At Southern Seminary, he created and taught his signature course, "Music in Worship and Evangelism." This course gave Hustad the opportunity to synthesize and articulate his views, which ultimately became the manuscript for "Jubilate! Church Music in the Evangelical Tradition." This scholarly work and its extensive revision, Jubilate II, have been instrumental in guiding today's evangelical church musicians. Hustad's catalog of written works includes over 100 articles and six books.


Accolades

Accolades and honors highlighted Hustad's significant contributions to evangelical church music. In 1989, he was named a Fellow of the
Hymn Society in the United States and Canada The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada – founded in 1922 as The Hymn Society of America and renamed in 1991 – is a not-for-profit organization for those people who: * believe that congregational song is an integral component of worsh ...
, a national award in recognition of his distinguished services to hymnody. He received an honorary doctorate from
Samford University Samford University is a Private university, private Christian university in Homewood, Alabama, United States. It was founded by Baptist Church, Baptists in 1841 as Howard College and located until 1887 in Marion, Alabama. It is governed by an in ...
in 2006, and in March, 2008, Hustad was honored at the American Choral Director's Association's Southern Division Conference for his contributions to church music. He was a National Patron of
Delta Omicron Delta Omicron () is a co-ed international professional music honors fraternity whose mission is to promote and support excellence in music and musicianship. History Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity was founded on September 6, 1909 a ...
, an international professional music fraternity.Delta Omicron


References

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Footnotes


External links


Donald Hosted Interview - NAMM Oral History Library (2012)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hustad, Donald 1918 births 2013 deaths American performers of Christian music Composers of Christian music Olivet Nazarene University faculty Fellows of the Royal College of Organists Southern Baptists Wheaton College (Illinois) faculty People from Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota People from Boone, Iowa 20th-century Methodists