In Memoriam: John Beckwith (1927-2022)
Obituary by Professor Robin Elliott (Globe and Mail, Dec 2022)
Dear Faculty of Music community,
We are sad to report that John Beckwith died on December 5, 2022 at Toronto Western Hospital from pneumonia at the age of 95. His association with the Faculty of Music dates back to 1945, when he began his studies in the BMus degree program here. After graduation he went to Paris to study composition with Nadia Boulanger, and then returned to Toronto in 1952. He taught on contract for the Faculty for three years and then became a full-time faculty member in 1955. After completing his MMus degree in composition in 1961 under John Weinzweig, he was promoted from lecturer to assistant professor. During the 1960s he rose through the academic ranks, becoming a full professor in 1970 and serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Music from 1970 to 1977 and as the inaugural Director of the Institute for Canadian Music from 1985 to 1991. Concurrently with his work at the university, Beckwith was active as a music critic, CBC broadcaster, editor, writer, and public intellectual. A hard-working and productive scholar-composer, he wrote over 160 compositions and a similar number of articles, as well as seventeen books, the last of which, Music Annals, was published just three months ago. His richly detailed and beautifully written memoir, Unheard of, was published in 2012. His vital contributions to Canadian music were recognized by his appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada in 1987, by five honorary doctorates, and by numerous other awards. He leaves behind a rich legacy as a composer, writer, and educator. He is survived by Kathleen McMorrow, his life partner for the past 45 years and former head of the Music Library, as well as by a sister, three children, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. (~Professor Robin Elliott, Faculty of Music).
Sincerely,
Ellie Hisama
Dean and Professor of Music
Faculty of Music
University of Toronto
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