|
The
man who composed the song synonymous with the Seventh-day Adventist
Church's belief in Jesus Christ's second coming, Wayne Hooper, died
February 28 at his home in Thousand Oaks, California. He was 86. The
song, We Have this Hope, was his best-known song and was created as
the theme song for the 1962 Adventist church's General Conference
Session in San Francisco. The song was used again as the theme song
for the General Conference sessions of 1966, 1975, 1995 and 2000.
By popular demand, the hymn has been incorporated into Adventist
church hymnals and translated into dozens of languages.
Hooper, who wrote both the words and music to the song, later said
of the experience, "This is the one time in my life that I feel very
certain that I was 'given' the musical ideas from the Lord."
Hooper worked with the Voice of Prophecy, a supporting media
ministry of the Adventist church, for some 65 years. He joined the
King's Heralds quartet at the Voice of Prophecy in 1943, singing
baritone for four years before moving to Nebraska to complete his
bachelor's degree in music. He resumed his role in the quartet from
1949 to 1962, then continued to serve the Voice of Prophecy as music
director, producer of the Sunday radio broadcast, and trust services
director. He received his Master of Arts degree in music in 1957
from Occidental College, Los Angeles.
After officially retiring in 1980, Hooper coordinated the production
of the current Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal and a companion volume
giving the history of the 695 selections and composers. The hymnal
has sold more than one million copies.
His prolific career included hundreds of compositions and
arrangements for soloists, quartets, choirs and orchestras.
Hooper is survived by his wife, Harriet, and their four children and
families: Jim Hooper, Mrs. Jan (Lind), David Hooper, and Dan Hooper.
Funeral arrangements have not been finalized. For more information
see www.vop.com
Source: March 2, 2007 Thousand Oaks, California .... [Voice of
Prophecy/ANN Staff]
|
