Cortège (1993)

Roger C. Hannahs (1918–2000) — Cortège (1993) for organ

American composer Roger C. Hannahs (1918–2000) was educated at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam (BM in Music Education), the Eastman School of Music (MM in Music Composition), and Cornell University (PhD in Music Composition). Hannahs was an active musician and teacher for many years in Potsdam, Ithaca, and finally Saratoga Springs, New York. In addition to his teaching activities (including directing choruses and an arts and humanities residency program at Saratoga High School), he was organist and choir director for a number of mostly Episcopal churches. In addition to teaching, composing, and organ playing, Hannahs also performed as a bass vocal soloist, where he sang many roles for the Ithaca Civic Opera Company and appeared as an oratorio soloist with local ensembles. After retiring from public school teaching, Hannahs joined the faculty of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he taught theory and composition and conducted the school’s choral ensembles. His compositions include primarily choral and organ works.