Lawrence-Moe-Obituary

Lawrence Moe

Oakland, California

About

LOCATION
Oakland, California

Obituary

Send Flowers

Lawrence Henry Moe

96, U.C. Berkeley Professor of Music and University Organist Emeritus, passed away in Oakland on September 14, 2013. He was born on May 9, 1917, in Chicago. At just age 15, he became organist and choirmaster of his local church. He earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees...

Read More

Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

I have enjoyed his J.S. Bach class with this excellent way of transforming Bach's music in a visual method to keep track of how his music transcends in a magical way. Already a big fan of Bach, Dr. Moe even widened my view. God bless Lawrence.

I was just thinking about Larry Moe this morning, as I often do, not realizing that today is an anniversary. He was a calm, wise and friendly presence in my life, a trusted counselor and guide. I miss him!

Dr. Moe was an exceptional man and a good friend to all who were fortunate enough to know him. He was super smart (of course) and a brilliant musician (of course!) but he was above all a kind and considerate person, always ready to help or give good advice. I miss him still, and I remember him not just with admiration but also with great affection. Kathleen McIntosh

There is no question but that this man was a major force in furthering my career. He took me on as his teaching assistant in my first year as a Berkeley grad student; he recommended me for excellent positions that came open for a church organist; he supported my grant applications; and he played a role in alerting me to a teaching position at San Francisco State when I left Berkeley. I owe him a huge gratitude both for his support and for his friendship.

He was a generous,...

Larry was a very gifted member of the San Francisco Chapter of American Guild of Organists. I particularly remember his organ recitals at Hertz Hall.

It was not generally known in the organ world that his PhD dissertation at Harvard University dealt with dance rhythms in Renaissance Music and several editions of the Harvard Dictionary of Music included his articles on this topic.

I still have letters he sent me about an organ at Northwestern University that we both...

Larry was in his first college professorship in WA state when we became lifelong friends, all because my deceased husband, Joe, as a freshman enjoyed organ music and sought Larry's practice times to listen. WWII intervened, the two corresponded until
Joe's return to campus.
The many, many years of friendship has remained.......traveling. Vacationing, raising our four children.
Larry's long productive life, the many deserved awards in every endeavor and the solidarity between he and...

In longtime warmth, admiration and gratitude, Jon and Mickey Elkus

Larry was extremely kind to me when I approached him as a naive, and organ-loving, undergrad (majoring in physics, of all things!). He gave me the opportunity to play the great Holtkamp in Hertz Hall as well as the fabulous organ at St. Joseph of Arimathea on Durant, and gave me a summer job helping prepare pipes for the Harrold Organ. When I went on a trip to Europe, he gave me contacts that allowed me to play some of the most magnificent instruments in France and Germany. The organ world...

My condolences to the Moe family. All those many years ago I would wait in the audience of Hertz Hall with my mom and dad for Larry to pop out of that door at stage right and float over to the console of that big organ floating above the stage. Then the most amazing and beautiful sounds would fill the hall and we would all be transported to somewhere mystical and beautiful and transcendent. May his memory live on in that space as it certainly will in my thoughts.