Richard W. Hillert, 1923-2010
If you, like me, are waiting for the Easter Vigil Service or for the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord on April 4, then part of your anticipation is to once more sing Worthy is the Lamb, better known as “This is the Feast of Victory.” Richard Hillert, who died at his home in Melrose Park, IL, wrote that favorite song of praise now contained in at least 30 worship books. I think one of the reasons that the services in Lutheran Worship, 1982, and Lutheran Book of worship, 1978, were readily accepted by many was Hillert’s Setting One of the Divine Service which he wrote. “This is the Feast,” was intended as an alternative hymn of praise, but is used more frequently, because it is a joyous hymn of praise.
Hillert was born on March 14, 1923 near Granton, WI. Granton is a small town about 20 miles from Marshfield where I serve in the 1980’s. I didn’t know Hillert was from Granton until I started to also serve the congregation as vacancy pastor. My wife’s teaching job was at Granton, where she also assistant girls basketball coach, though she never played basketball. Granton has always been a place we remember.
Hillert attended Concordia College (now university), at River Forest, IL. After graduation, he taught at Bethlehem Lutheran church, St. Louis and then was teacher and music director at Trinity, Wausau, WI. In 1959 he began teaching at his alma mater where he continued until he retired in 1993.
He wrote numerous hymn tunes and settings for hymns. Among those is the setting for Martin Franzmann’s hymn “Thy Strong Word.” It was the processional hymn at my graduation from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 1967. He also wrote the setting for the 15th century Christmas hymn, “Let our Gladness have no end. And the 14th century hymn “Now Sing, We Now Rejoice.” He has a part in six songs in Evangelical Worship (ELCA) and eight Lutheran Service Book (LCMS).
Carl Schalk who met Hillert as a student and served with him in Wausau and River Forest said of him, “I think he was the most significant Lutheran church music composer of our generation. He was certainly one of the most important.”
His funeral was at 7 p.m., March 1 at grace Lutheran Church, River Forest.
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