PETER LE HURAY
M.A, Mus.B., Ph.D., Hon.R.A.M., Hon. F.R.C.O.
1930-1992
Peter le Huray's death, on 7 October 1992, deprived the musical world of a distinguished scholar, practitioner, and teacher. Apart from National Service (in the Royal Artillery) his whole career had been based in Cambridge, around St Catharine's College (of which he was successively Organ Scholar, Research Fellow, Fellow and President) and the Music Faculty (he was a University Lecturer for thirty years). This should not, however, be taken to imply parochialism; although wholly dedicated to his work in Faculty and College, Peter's influence outside Cambridge was considerable.
As a scholar, his first book, Music and the Reformation in England, 1549-1660 (1967), quickly became the standard work on the subject, and still largely determines our understanding of that crucial period. Other writings (on performance practice and authenticity) were equally influential. He served on the editorial panel of New Grove, and produced many performance editions of English church music.
As a teacher, Peter inspired generations of undergraduates and research students, wearing his formidable learning lightly, always friendly and approachable, yet insisting on the highest standards.
Natural flair as a keyboard player informed by meticulous study of stylistic questions gave his playing the stamp of authority; whether Bach or Liszt, he played with total conviction and rare facility. He was also a gifted conductor of both instrumentalists and singers - he directed the King's and st John's choirs whilst their respective directors were on sabbatical leave.
For many years, Peter served as Organs adviser to the Diocese of Ely. He worked hard to promote the building of small tracker organs and the recovery of classical principles of tonal design, and his collaboration with William Johnson over the complete reconstruction of the St catharine's organ (1979) was probably his greatest achievement in this field. He was never a fundamentalist where conservation was concerned, but encourages parishes to preserve all that was best from the past.
We counted ourselves fortunate when Peter agreed to become Chairman of BIOS, in 1991. Sadly, illness soon intervened. But even in his short tenure, Peter had begun to sketch out plans for the future; the Cambridge residential conference in 1993 will follow the scheme he worked on, and he had been active in supporting funding applications, which are now bearing fruit. So, even as we mourn his passing, we can give thanks for the work he had begun, and which we will try to continue.
NJT
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