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The American organist and harpsichordist, Edward Brewer, revealed his obvious talent for music at age 5 when he was able to correct his older sister’s piano practise by pointing at the keyboard and telling her that she should have played that note instead of the one she had played. As a highschool student, he accompanied school choral performances and was often recruited to play for his church Youth Club parties. As a music major at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, he was encouraged to transfer his keyboard study to the organ. As a graduate student at Illinois University Urbana-Champaign, he received a Fulbright Fellowship to continue his organ studies with organist Helmut Walcha in Frankfurt, Germany. His harpsichord studies continued as well with Maria Jaeger.
Edward Brewer's school days ended in New York City in 1963 where, as a conscientious objector, he served in the Domestic Peace Corps until 1964, when he became the organist and choir director at Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village. His extraordinary ability to improvise was given ample opportunity to develop during his tenure at Judson, and he became a masterful continuo player. Among the organizations to which he brought his gifts were: Amor Artis, Oratorio Society of New York, and New York Choral Society, as well New York Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Collegium, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Soclair Ensemble, Orchestra of St. Luke's, and Philharmonia Virtuosi of New York. He participated in the Madeira Bach Festival, Mostly Mozart Festival, and North Country Chamber Players summer festival. He was founding director of the Soclair Music Festival, a role he filled for 30 years. As founder and director of the Brewer Chamber Orchestra, he participated in a series of first-time recordings of operas by George Frideric Handel for MMG, Nonesuch, Delos, and ESS.A.Y. He also lent his talents to the New York production Book of Beasts by the Paul Taylor Dance Company and performed at Carnegie Hall with the Oratorio Society of New York.
Edward Brewer appeared on numerous recordings he can be heard on albums that include "Baroque at Versailles", G.F. Handel: Deidamia and G.F. Handel: Joshua with the Brewer Chamber Orchestra, "Fury With Red Sparkling Eyes" with the Brewer Baroque Chamber Orchestra & Jennifer Lane, "Art of the Trumpet" with Edward Carroll and others, "Bach: Cello Concertos, Vol. 1" with Simca Heled, "Mad About Baroque" and "Pachelbel: Canon & Gigue" with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the compilations "For Your Soul", "Really Mad About the Classics" and "The Classic Christmas Album".
In the world of musical education Edward Brewer taught harpsichord and organ to many students. He also worked in the building and design of instruments, building his first harpsichord in the mid-1960's, debuting on it at his church hall in 1966, and later creating one for the Lincoln Center. He also provided portable pipe organs and harpsichords in European styles of the 18th century for New York musical organizations involved in the performance of Baroque music. This service continues as Baroque Keyboards, LLC, under the management of his son and daughter.
Edward Brewer died when he was 82 years old on April 3, 2020 in Leonia, New Jersey. He is survived by oboist Virginia Brewer, his devoted wife of 51 years, his son Barry and wife Tomoko and their daughters Miako and Emiko, daughter Hazzan Diana Brewer and wife Sara Brewer and their daughter Camilla, sister Alice, nieces Margaret Perrett, Kathy Nunn, and Martha Gibbons, as well as great nephew George Perrett and great nieces Madeleine Perret and Melody Gibbons. |
