IN composer, music teacher David N. Davenport remembered

The Richmond man’s composition was performed by the First Presbyterian Church choir in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the attacks last fall. The song is one of more than 250 Davenport created during his career as a composer and choral music publisher.

His pen, piano and voice have been silenced. Davenport died Tuesday at age 86.

In 1963, he was invited to the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles to direct his piece, “The Everliving God,” during the Easter sunrise service.

He left teaching in 1974 to focus on composing and publishing music, serving as president of Richmond Music Press Inc. According to a 1989 Palladium-Item article, the artwork for the sheet music was done by June Tripp or Debra Daugherty. After publishing more than 800 works, he sold his company in 1999 to Lorenz Publishing Co. of Dayton, Ohio.

Kennedy said Davenport didn’t start his public company just to publish his own work.

“He recognized others’ works and published them,” he said. “He was just a dynamo. He was an enjoyable person and a very generous person.”

Davenport’s compositions have been performed across the country in community settings and churches. His works were frequently used in area and state choral festivals.

In addition to his publishing business, Davenport continued to direct singers, leading the Indiana University East Community Chorus, the IU East Singers and the choirs at First Presbyterian Church and First Friends Meeting. He also was involved in several Richmond Civic Theatre musicalsIn 1992, he was recognized with the (IU) Singing Hoosiers Alumni Award, and 10 years later, Nov. 7, 2002, was proclaimed “David N. Davenport Day” by the city of Richmond.