Album Notes

David Melbye has coordinated the music therapy department at Hospice of the Twin Cities in Plymouth, Minnesota since March of 2000. He is grateful to serve those at the end of life in such a capacity.

His studies have included music history at St. Olaf College, music therapy at the University of Minnesota, and practical nursing at Red Wing Technical College.

He has appeared on two tribute CDs to his favorite artist, Todd Rundgren, and has arranged Malotte's The Lord's Prayer for high voice with classical guitar accompaniment, which has been published by G. Schirmer.


Gerhard Theodore Alexis (1889-1927)

One of seven children born to an itinerant Swedish Lutheran minister, Gerhard dedicated his life to the music of the church as an organist, composer, arranger, singer and choral conductor.

His early studies and positions led him through the midwest to Stockholm, Sweden, where he studied at the Royal Musical Conservatory. He also traveled the United States and Sweden with his brothers as the Alexis Male Quartet. Their concerts included vocal solos, duets and quartets; organ, piano and flute works, as well as dramatic recitations.

In 1916, Gerhard accepted the position of organist and choirmaster at First Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he and his wife, Olga Maria Grund, raised their three children. In addition to his duties at First Lutheran, he served as professor of music at the Minnesota College's School of Music and at Phalen Luther Seminary.

Gerhard also served on the committee that composed, arranged and approved the music for the 1925 Augustana Synod Hymnal. He is remembered therein by six hymns and a number of liturgical compositions and arrangements. Three of his hymn tunes were included in the 1958 Lutheran Service Book and Hymnal, affectionately known as "The Red Hymnal."

Gerhard died unexpectedly at the age of thirty-eight in 1927 following surgery. Many of his compositions remain unpublished and unrecorded.