A Responsibility to God and Man: The Life and Organ Works of David N. Johnson (1922–1987)

Organist, pedagogue, and composer David N. Johnson created an extensive body of organ and church music and influenced twentieth-century organ pedagogy through his teaching and writing. Formed by his early training at the Curtis Institute of Music, Trinity University, and Syracuse University, Johnson went on to teaching positions at Alfred University, St. Olaf College, Syracuse University, and Arizona State University. As an organist, he excelled at improvisation, inspiring audiences with his varied and engaging programming. As a composer, he focused on creating music for musicians of limited skill and provided organists of all abilities with music of craft and aesthetic worth. His numerous trumpet tunes and hymn settings remain a staple of many church organist’s repertoires. Working during an era of significant change and artistic experimentation, Johnson also sought to bring various experimental compositional practices to church music. The motivation for his life’s work came from a spiritual imperative to bring music to ordinary people. By elevating their spiritual and musical experiences, he sought to open them to even higher artistic possibilities.

This study explores his life and the numerous forces that shaped him into a complex and dynamic musician. An examination of four representative organ works shows his distinctive compositional voice and how his engaging music contributes to the broader narrative of twentieth-century church music. A comprehensive catalog of his published organ works concludes this dissertation.