THOMAS (Grotenhuis)

Composer: Dale Grotenhuis

Dale Grotenhuis (b. Cedar Grove, WI, 1931; d. Jenison, Mi, August 17, 2012) was a member of the 1987 Psalter Hymnal 1987 Revision Committee, and was professor of music and director of choral music at Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa, from 1960 until he retired in 1994 to concentrate on composition. Educated at Calvin College; Michigan State University, Lansing; and Ohio State University, Columbus; he combined teaching with composition throughout his career and was a widely published composer of choral music. He also directed the Dordt choir in a large number of recordings, including many psalm arrangements found in the 1959 edition of the Psalter Hymnal. Before coming to Dordt, Grotenhuis taught music at Christian high schools in Washin… Go to person page >

Dale Grotenhuis (PHH 4) composed THOMAS in 1986 for the Psalter Hymnal. In contrast to the composer's typical choral style of songwriting, THOMAS is intended for unison singing. Grotenhuis named the tune after his youngest son.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook