March 14, 2012
Herbert Nanney died on May 20 at the age of 77. Mr. Nanney was University Organist and Professor of Music at Stanford University from 1947–1985. Born in Whittier, CA, he began piano lessons at age five. By the time he completed a BMus at Whittier College in 1940, he had already served as organist in local churches and had studied under George Dixon and Alexander Schreiner. He was Stanford’s University Organist for a brief period before serving in World War II with the 203rd General Hospital Battalion. During the war, he was also organist-director at the American Cathedral in Paris. Prior to military duty he had served as organist at the Pasadena First Methodist Church, First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, and Ninth Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. In 1947 he obtained the artist’s diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music and returned to Stanford, where he obtained the MMus, became a full professor, and taught and performed until his retirement 39 years later. In the mid-1960s, Nanney headed Stanford’s new doctoral program in organ performance practice. He was a noted advocate of the music of Bach, Franck, and Dupré (with whom he had studied), and also enjoyed the music of Gershwin and the music of the theatre organ.
Herbert Nanney is survived by his wife and son. A memorial concert played by former doctoral students of Prof. Nanney will take place on September 30 at Stanford’s Memorial Church. (See “Here & There” p. 2.)
