The Sacred Composition Legacy of Joan J. Pinkston
Scott AniolThe John Ness Beck Foundation seeks to “encourage and promote the writing of traditional sacred music.” One of the means through which they encourage this is through an annual program “which recognizes current composers of traditional sacred choral music by selecting two compositions yearly which best exemplify the type of writing that fit the criteria set forth by John Beck.” The web site of the foundation explains how the program is set up:
Compositions are nominated by a panel of seven judges comprised of composers, music store retailers and university music instructors, each panelist suggesting one to five compositions for consideration. (No composer may nominate or vote on their own composition.) The first place award is $5,000.00 and the second place recipient receives $3,000.00.
What is very interesting is that an examination of the award recipients for the last several years reveals a common theme:
2004
First Place: Dan Forrest “The King of Love My Shepard Is” (Beckenhorst Press, Inc.)
Second Place: John Rutter “Psalm 150″ (Collegium Music Publications)
2006
First Place Published: Howard Helvey “Joshua fit de Battle of Jericho” and “Love Came Down at Christmas” (Yes a tie.)
Second Place Published: Joe Martin “Pieta”
First Place Unpublished: Stephen Main “Wonder Tidings”
Second Place Unpublished: Gregory Kufchak “Still, Still with Thee”
2007
First Place Unpublished: Jess Turner “All This Night”
Second Place Unpublished: David Giardinere “Midnight Clear” HMC2117
First Place Published: Lloyd Larson “Beautiful Savior” BPI 1766
Second Place Published: Joan Pinkston “Lord Jesus, Think on Me” JH 572
2008
First Place Published: Molly Ijames “Song of Bethlehem”
Second Place Published: Dan Forrest “A Cradle Carol”
First Place Unpublished: Chris Collins
Second Place Unpublished: Sara Morris
What is interesting to note is that in the past 5 years, four first places and three second places have been awarded to graduates of Bob Jones University. In particular, BJU grads swept all four awards this past year!
But what is even more important to note is that all of these composers were students of Joan J. Pinkston, long-time theory/composition faculty member of BJU. Mrs. Pinkston, well-known for her excellent composition style, is characterized by sweetness, humility, and integrity. She has clearly had an significant impact upon the conservative sacred music composers of the future.
Not only has Mrs. Pinkston produced some excellent music and fine composers, but she also was the primary editor for the excellent hymnal, Hymns of Grace and Glory.
Congratulations to the Composition Department of Bob Jones University, and particularly to Joan J. Pinkston, for this legacy of fine sacred choral work. Truly a gift to Christ’s Church.
Thanks for brinigng this to the attention of those of us who are not immersed in the world of sacred music, and would otherwise not have known. We love Joan Pinkston’s hymns at our church. We love her hymnal, full of doctrinally sound hymns set to music that congregations delight to sing. I believe she is truly one of the “unsung” heros of contemporary, conservative, God-centerred music. She has served the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ very well, and I’m glad to see her being honored in this way.
This lady is a true gift to God’s people.
Thank you for noting the contribution of Joan Pinkston to excellence in church music. I have enjoyed the privilege of having Joan as our church pianist for almost 30 years. Her skills as a composer/arranger and as a performer are remarkable, but she has even more remarkable qualities. As one of her music faculty colleagues told me, you meet only one Joan Pinkston in a lifetime. Joan’s knowledge of music is evident. In particular, her knowledge of Christian hymns is encyclopedic. But what comes through in all Joan does is that she not only knows her subject; she knows God and always seeks to divert attention from herself so as to exalt Christ. That is what informs all she writes and plays. She is truly a gift to Christ’s church. I trust the Lord will spare her to influence many more lives through her personal testimony and her amazing musical ability.
Thanks for your comments, gentlemen.
[...] excellence in sacred composition, sweeping the 2009 awards. (Read Scott Aniol’s article about it here.) Previous winners have included accomplished composers such as John Rutter, Craig Courtney, and [...]