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Manookin, Robert P., 1918-1997

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1918 - 1997

Biographical History

Robert P. Manookin (1918-1997) was a prominent composer and Brigham Young University faculty emeritus who contributed hymns to the 1985 church hymnbook and Children's Songbook.

Robert Park Manookin was born on April 12, 1918, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from East High School in 1936, shortly after which he was called to serve in the German Austria Mission from 1937 to 1939. Upon arriving home, he married Edna Lucile Burningham in 1940 but that marriage ultimately culminated in a divorce. He later married Helen Adele Haugen in 1965. In terms of his educational history, he received a BA from Brigham Young University in 1955, a Master's in Music from the University of Illinois in 1959, and a doctorate from the University of Utah in 1967. Throughout all this, he studied with some of the greatest LDS composers: Frank W. Asper, Alexander Schreiner, J. Spencer Cornwall, and B. Cecil Gates. Manookin taught at BYU as a professor of theory and composition until 1980, when he was called to serve a mission in the New Zealand Temple with his wife, Helen. They served three additional missions after: Manilla Philippines Temple in 1984, the Sydney Australia Temple in 1989, and England, Leeds in 1993. He was also a member of the General Church Music Committee. Manookin died in Orem in 1997.

Citation:
"Composer of LDS hymns touches audience with a special quality" by Laurie William Sowby, Desert News, March 21, 1984, viewed May 6th, 2011 (Studied with Frank W. Asper, Alexander Schreiner, J. Spencer Cornwall, and B. Cecil Gates; Former professor of theory and composition at BYU)

Robert Park Manookin Obituary, Desert News, 16 November 1997, website viewed May 6th, 2011. (B. Apr. 12th, 1918 in SLC; d. Nov. 12th, 1997 in Orem, Utah; M. twice: Edna Lucile Burningham in 1940, culminating in a divorce, and then to Helen Adele Haugen in 1965; graduated from East High School in 1936; LDS mission to German Austria Mission, 1937-39; BA from BYU 1955; MM from University of Illinois 1959; PhD from U of U in 1967; Retired from teaching at BYU in 1980 in order to serve a mission in the New Zealand Temple with his wife. Served three additional missions: Manila Philippines Temple, 1984; Sydney Australia Temple, 1989; England, Leeds, 1993; served on the General Church Music Committee.)

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Robert P. Manookin

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 7821
Scope and Contents

Materials consist of manuscript scores written and arranged by Robert P. Manookin. The music is primarily vocal music, both sacred and secular, instrumental arrangements primarily for organ or keyboard, with occasional other orchestrations, and large scale ensemble works. Dated approximately 1935-1997.

Dates: approximately 1935-1997

Filtered By

  • Subject: Church music -- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints X