[Message from Danielle Woerner] It is with great sadness that I pass along the news of the death, early this morning (Sunday), of Robert Starer, at his home in Woodstock, NY. He was 77. His funeral will be this Tuesday afternoon in Woodstock. Robert was, I believe, one of the 20th century's finest composers, and many singers and choirs are grateful for his wonderful music for the voice, including songs, chamber and orchestral pieces and five chamber operas. On a personal note, he was a dear friend and a generous collaborator in the creating and performing of music, someone I feel privileged to have known over the past decade. He was continually working on new compositions, and it is a joyful thing to know that he was creating new work literally unto his last day: I just received from his long-time partner, Gail Godwin, a copy of the last piece he wrote - only yesterday - a song for soprano, fittingly called "Evening," to a poem of Allen Lannom. ================== Janos Gereben/SF, CA [log in to unmask]