For years I have enjoyed playing and performing the elegantly simple and beautiful piano arrangements of Harold DeCou. I became determined to learn more about Mr. DeCou using online research. Unfortunately, the first thing I learned was that Mr. Harold DeCou died on December 26, 2008.
Mr. Harold DeCou
The included photo and more information can be found in Harold DeCou’s Obituary posted on the iLevite WebSite.
Some additional personal information about Mr. DeCou and another picture may be found on a dedicatory page on the Allen Organ Company website.
Mr. DeCou was long associated with Billy Graham and other Singspiration staff. His output as artist, composer, arranger and orchestrator ensures that he will be remembered as one of the giants of Christian gospel music.
Over the last couple of years I have recorded several of the arrangements by Harold DeCou that I have previously performed—some multiple times. I hope to record others in the near future. I hope that you will enjoy these performances as examples of Mr. DeCou’s arranging excellence.
I had sincerely hoped to meet Mr. DeCou (in this life) and to play keyboards with him. I regret not having done so. I am thankful for the music that this gentle man left as witness of his faith. If you know a story or anecdote about, or related to Mr. DeCou, please share your observations. I am certain that other of this blog’s readers will appreciate your contribution to our collection of tributes.
Thank God for Harold DeCou.
Berean Baptist Church in Sciotoville, Ohio, purchased a used Allen organ about 2007 and Harold came for a dedication service. Being 53 and having played the piano and organ since I was 6 it was a blessing to have him at our church and I was amazed as his ease of how the music flowed from his hands. God used him in an amazing way and he is one that I will look to find in Heaven and be able to talk with him and again thank him for his inspiration. There are not to many man organists, I am proud to be one and serve my Lord and Savior with the talents he has also given me. To God Be the Glory and may I be a beacon to Christ as Harold Decou has been for years.
Out of curiosity, after losing contact with Harold DeCou for more than forty years, I typed his name on GOOGLE and found your Musings Page about Harold.
Exactly fifty years ago this year, Harold arranged the music, produced and conducted (at RCA in Chicago) my first vocal and instrumental album – In Tune With You — as a baritone soloist and trombonist, backed with a full orchestra and the Melody Four Quartet.
At the time, Harold and I were with Youth for Christ, International in Wheaton, Illinois (he was the music arranger with Thurlow Spurr and I was a YFCI Staff Evangelist). It was a great time of working with a remarkable young man who was gifted with musical talent beyond measure, yet humble in his dealings with everyone and committed in his service to God and mankind.
It is a memory I cherish.
I love Harald DeCou! I enjoy his Christmas cantata “God’s Love Gift” and his Easter cantata “Easter Celebration”. I have both of these cantatas on LPs which I’ve recorded onto CDs a few years ago. I heard both “God’s Love Gift” and “Easter Celebration” on the local Christian radio station here in Cleveland WCRF in the late 1970s and loved those cantatas so much that I ran out to the Christian book and record stores and grabbed both of these albums. I attended a performance of “Easter Celebration” by the chancel choir at Euclid-Nottingham Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio on Easter Sunday, April 15, 1979 and loved it! “Easter Celebration” musically sounds much like those Rodgers & Hammerstein Broadway musicals such as “Oklahoma!” and “The Sound Of Music”. In “Easter Celebration” the song “Hosanna” is much like the song “Maria” in “The Sound Of Music”. The song “There’s Room” from “God’s Love Gift” is very similar to the old Kay Starr popular song “My Heart Reminds Me” and “God’s Wonderous Gift Of Love” is very similar to the old popular songs of the 1940s my parents used to enjoy as teenagers. These cantatas are nostalgic and inspirational! I love them!
Dear friends,
I had the privilege of hiring Mr. DeCou to harmonize some of my songs. He did so for the price of $50.00 per harmonization. He was a wonderful man to work with, truly, gentle and loving. He also arranged two songs that are found on my album “His Eye Is On the Sparrow.” They are beautiful! He told me once that he was taught lessons by someone who did not charge him for his parents could not afford it. I was amazed that someone so talented, had been taught for nothing! It has served an example and in my studio today, if needed, I teach a child in need whenever the opportunity presents itself. May God bless you for taking time to pay tribute to this wonderful man of God!
Singing the Praises of God,
Jonathan K. Cook
I was a really lucky girl growing up. I attended Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Mi. and Harold Decou was the organist and John W. Peterson was the music director there. I have never been fortunate to find another church, that had the music program I was able to listen to every Sun. It was truly outstanding.
Renee,
You are correct that “How Rich I Am!” is in a gold-colored book. This is Volume 2 of the “Piano Solo Favorites” series. Like you, this is one of the pieces that I have performed. I am uncertain if, or where the book is currently available. Hopefully, my upcoming recording of it will help you to remember the forgotten part.
–Stan Owen, Jr.
I have been searching high and low for a piano book by Mr. DeCou that I used to own (but probably let someone borrow and never got back). It had a gold cover and had a piano arrangement for “How Rich I Am”. I can play most of it from memory, but have a couple spots that I have forgotten. I love the arrangement, and wonder if any of you know where I can purchase this? I have played many of his arrangements over the years, both piano and organ. What a wonderful composer!
Stan–
I enjoyed your tribute to Harold DeCou. He was one of my father’s close friends and associates a full half-century ago when both were young men.
After hearing my dad talk about Harold all of my life, I finally had the opportunity to meet him about 18 years ago. He was everything that I had always heard . . . and more! He and his sweet wife welcomed me into their home and lives and essentially “adopted” me as if I had been one of their own sons! I have counted Harold among my dearest friends ever since.
He was, without question, one of the finest keyboard artists of our time but, impressive as his artistry and musicianship were, he was every bit as fine a man! He lived out and exemplified the spirit of Christ as much as any individual I’ve ever been privileged to know. Hard as it is to imagine, the sweetness of his music was somehow surpassed even by that of his life!
It has saddened me beyond words that I was unable to see him in-person one last time before he went home to be with the Lord–but not only shall I carry him in my heart forever–the prospect of Heaven is now all the sweeter because of dear Harold’s presence there!
I think your notes and work are tremendous tribute to great composers. My utmost admiration, Cathy
Not really familiar with Harold DeCou but he sounds like a talented guy.
Too bad Stan never got to tickle the ivories with him!
Additional comments from this post that are related to “Willy Evergreen” are now associated with “The Spirit of Christmas” comments. Thanks, Ken for your kind words.
—SMOjr.