Ralph James Kneeream Jr.

 Ralph James Kneeream, Jr. died on November 28, 2024, at 91 years old. Born in Reading, PA to Sarah and Ralph James Kneeream, he was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mary Anne Thomas. 

In a career that spanned seventy-five years, he served the following Churches and Temples as Organist and Choir Director: First Baptist Church, Reading, PA; Post Chapel, Sukiran, Okinawa (US Army Assignment); Middle Collegiate Church, New York City; Fourth Presbyterian Church, Rockaway, NJ; First-Park Baptist Church, Plainfield, NJ; First United Methodist Church, Evanston, IL; Saint Gregory’s Episcopal Church, Boca Raton, FL; Temple Sinai, Delray Beach, FL; First United Methodist Church, Carlisle, PA; and Memorial Chapel, US Army War College, Carlisle, PA.  

Dr. Kneeream’s educational, graduate, and post-graduate portfolio is extensive and laudable: Columbia University, Bachelor of Arts in French; Columbia University, Masterof Arts in French; and Northwestern University for a Doctor of Music Degree in Church Music. 

In addition to the formal degrees Ralph earned, he had the good fortune to engage in private study with Rachel Large Kooker in Reading, PA and Dr. Claire Coci in New York City, and to serve as Searle Wright’s assistant at St. Paul’s Chapel, Columbia University. He also had the privileged opportunity to have Dr. Seth Bingham as a mentor while at Columbia University. 

Ralph eventually journeyed to France where he studied with Nadia Boulanger, Marcel Dupré, Maurice and Marie-Madeleine Duruflé. Jeanne Demessieux, and André Marchal- each of them highly acclaimed musicians and composers known the world over in the field of organ music. 

He authored an article, “Contemporary American Organ Music – Our Legacy to the Future,” published in the October 1961 issue of The American Guild of Organists Quarterly. Madame Alice Tournemire, wife of Charles Tournemire and a friend of Ralph, personally invited him to translate her late husband’s book titled César Franck, published in France in 1931 and in the English translation in the United States in 1989. Additionally, Ralph accomplished the French-to-English translation of Marcel Dupré’s book, Marcel Dupré raconte…, published in France in 1972 and published as Recollections in the United States in 1975. He also provided an English translation of Maurice Duruflé’s article, Recollections of Vierne and Tournemire, published in the November 1980 issue of The American Organist. 

Turning much of his university experience into teaching, Ralph had pedagogic appointments at: Columbia University as organ teacher; Middlebury College as organist to the summer French graduate school; Blair Academy as Chair of Music Department and French teacher; Northwestern University as French tutor for the School of Music; University of Michigan as lecturer and contributor to the International Conference on Organ Music; and at The Harid Conservatory as Adjunct Professor of Music. 

Ralph’s exclusive cinematic experience occurred in 1964 when he contributed to the production of A Golden Prison: The Louvre, a documentary of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. This one-of-a-kind cinema was narrated by the renowned actor, Charles Boyer. The soundtrack for the movie was composed for orchestra and organ by Norman Dello Joio, with Ralph himself at the organ. A Golden Prison: The Louvre was broadcast on coast-to-coast television by NBC in 1964 and was awarded both the Primetime Emmy award as well as The Peabody Award. 

Dr. Kneeream reached the pinnacle of his career in music by performing organ recitals at some of the most prestigious church venues in New York City: The Riverside Church, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St. Tomas Episcopal Church, St. Bartholomew’s Church, and Trinity Church. Additionally, Ralph performed organ recitals in Europe: Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (1971, 1976, and 1981) and Amiens Cathedral; St. Michael’s Church and St. Mary Magdalene Church in London; San Miniato Basilica, All Saints Church (Ognissanti), and the English (Anglican) Church, all in Florence, Italy; and the Domenico Zipoli International Festival in Prato, Italy. 

Ralph was an active member of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) for decades. In 1965, he served as Sub-Dean of the New York City Chapter of the AGO, years later as Dean of the Palm Beach County Chapter, and finally as Dean of the Harrisburg Chapter. In 1958, he was one of twelve participants in the AGO National Competition in Organ Playing, representing the Mid-Atlantic States. In addition to the American Guild of Organists, Ralph was also a member of the Organ Historical Society, The Association of Anglican Musicians, The Saint Wilfred Club, and was elected to Pi Kappa Lambda (Northwestern University Chapter), a prestigious honor society recognizing excellence in music and academics. Finally, he was a member of the Comité de soutien of the Association Maurice et Marie-Madeleine Duruflé.

Ralph served his country with honor in the United States Army in Korea and in Okinawa. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Ribbon, and the United Nations Service Medal. 

He is survived by his niece, Cathryn Thomas of Bernardston, MA, and his nephew Daniel Thomas of Burke, VA, Dan’s wife, Jenny, and their son, Matthew Thomas.  

Memorial contributions can be made to: ASPCA, Gift Processing Center, PO Box 96929, Washington DC 20077-7127. 

Services are currently pending.