Remembering Fenno

Has anyone ever had a more expressive sweep of the arm than Fenno, as he
brought us together in song?

When I was back for my ^25h reunion a few years ago, the highpoint was
singing for Fenno once again on the stage of Woolsey Hall. Fenno fully
embodied the ideal of *Yale Music *– the wonderful mix of tradition,
challenge, reflection, and exuberance that *Yale* represents at its
best, along with the joy and inspiration of *Music*.

Looking back, I appreciate more than ever Fenno's extraordinary ability
to turn the output of a bunch of largely untrained voices into music –
not just a series of notes, but music. As an undergraduate, I would
sometimes be concerned that we didn't have all the notes quite right, or
that our pianissimos weren't quite as soft as they could have been. But
I later sang in groups where the precision may have been greater, but
where we didn't make half the music that we made in Fenno's hands.

Along with so many others, I rejoice in the memory of Fenno's uplifted
arm, and of the warmth, friendship, and delight embodied in that
gesture. My life was made a bit brighter, and my Yale experience made
more meaningful, by Fenno Heath.

Alec Murphy, '77

Fenno's obituary in the New York Times

HEATH--Fenno Follansbee, Jr. 81, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully December 5, 2008 at his home in Hamden, CT following a long illness. He was born in Hampton, VA on December 30, 1926 to the late Fenno F. and Dorothy Jones Heath. Professor Heath was the Director of the Yale Glee Club from 1953-1992, a longtime conductor of the Litchfield County Choral Union and of the University Glee Club of New Haven, CT. Widely respected as a composer, teacher and choral conductor, Professor Heath was a mentor to generations of young singers, and was active as a composer, guest lecturer and conductor long into his retirement years. Raised in Hampton, Virginia, he graduated from Newport News High School and attended Loomis School before entering Yale University. His college career was interrupted by service in the U.S. Army during WWII. He graduated from Yale with the Class of 1950 during which he conducted the Apollo Glee Club and sang with the Yale Glee Club, the Spizzwinks and the Whiffenpoofs. At the Yale School of Music he received his Mus.B. in 1951 and Mus.M. in 1952 as a student of Quincy Porter and Paul Hindemith. He remained at Yale to pursue a lifetime in music, eventually becoming the first Marshall Bartholomew Professor of Choral Conducting. Through the many tours he led nationally and worldwide he helped to bring international recognition to the Yale Glee Club. Yale's new Alumni Chorus (YAC) is a direct outgrowth of Mr. Heath's success in creating a life-long love of song in his former singers. Over the years, he has received numerous commissions for choral compositions and has received many awards including the Yale Medal, the Sanford Medal, The Yale Glee Club Medal, the University Glee Club of New York City Medal, the Mory's Cup, and the Vernon Prize for composition. Among his works are the score for the play "John Brown's Body", a Mass for Chorus with Brass, and collections of choral arrangements of traditional spirituals. Major works were written for four Presidents of Yale. Texts were chosen by each President and set to music by Fenno Heath. They were sung by the Yale Glee Club at the inaugurations of Presidents Kingman Brewster, A. Bartlett Giamatti, Benno Schmidt and Richard Levin. He is survived by his wife, Carol Quimby Heath of Hamden, CT, his children and extended family: Sarah Heath and Franz Douskey of Hamden, CT, Lucy (Heath) and Robert McLellan of Lebanon, NH, Marguerite Heath Ogilvy and Daniel Hertzler of Windsor, VT, and Fenno F. and Paris (Stamos) Heath III of Woodbridge, CT, and six grandchildren: Heather, Sedgwick and Benjamin Ogilvy, Max Heath, and Quinby and Eliza McLellan. Beecher & Bennett, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, will handle Memorial Services to be announced at a later date. Contributions in memory of Fenno may be sent to the North Congregational Church, P.O. Box 307, New Hartford, CT 06057. To send a condolence see obits at beecherandbennett.com