Our youngest son David went to Azusa Pacific University, graduating in 2003. Although he majored in Business, he spent most of his time in the music building, playing piano for the renowned University Choir and Orchestra and other music-related activities. The foundation for all that was laid by Dr. Rod Cathey, who conducted Men’s Chorale, for which David sang his freshman year.
Shortly after David graduated, Rod suffered a brain tumor, from which he never fully recovered, finally passing on April 20. Rod was one of the great ones, as the School of Music posted: “To his students, he was equal parts teacher, mentor and pastor.” You can see David’s FaceBook posts here. Here is what I wrote:
I am David Ewell’s father, also a pianist. When David was a freshman, singing in male chorale, we had already heard one concert before parents’ weekend. I knew they always closed with “I’m On the Battlefield for my Lord.” I told David that sure would be fun to play. During the rehearsal we were observing at parents’ weekend, Rod turned to me and said, ”Do you want to sit in on Battlefield?” You bet! So I played it during rehearsal. Great fun. Afterward, as we were walking away, David said, “Now tomorrow night at the concert…” I said, “You mean he expects me to play that at the concert?” Yes. To make a long story short, I played it at the concert without music because the score was simple and it was 12 pages long! I did OK until I did one of the key changes prematurely. It took a few bars for the guitar and bass to realize what I’d done. We got through it. What will stick with me forever was that neither Rod nor anyone else said anything about my mistake. The concert wasn’t about me, it wasn’t about the Chorale, it was for the Lord. Some musicians will say that. Rod Cathey lived it. Rest in peace, my brother. Thanks for all you did for David, and we’ll reprise Battlefield some day on the new earth! –Bob Ewell, Facebook post on Rod Cathey
I couldn’t find a recording of Battlefield, but here are a few representative recordings of APU music.
- Holy, Holy, Holy at the Capitol Rotunda, May 2012
- A 30-minute Sunday morning concert of Men’s Chorale, April 2013
- The Majesty and Glory of His Name, Men’s Chorale
- Rod Cathey directing University Choir and Orchestra, 2008
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? …When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38.4, 7, ESV)
And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to their divisions, and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God. (2 Chronicles 5.11 – 14, ESV)
1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! (Psalm 100.1, 2, ESV)
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116.15, ESV)
Listened to the Capitol Rotunda rendition of “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Beautiful! I remember meeting you and June at APU for a concert once while David was there. I remember Cathey’s name around Desert Christian, too. Some of our choir students met him occasionally at music festivals. I hope you get to play that duet with him some day!