David Breckbill 1957–2016: Barry Millington pays tribute to a valued friend and colleague

March 2017, Volume 11, Number 1, 62–3.

The year just past – especially the last six months – was a dispiriting one for many of us. The saddest day of 2016 without a doubt, however, was the one on which news arrived of the death of the musicologist, teacher and pianist David Breckbill. It was not an unexpected event – he had been battling pancreatic cancer for over a year – but David has been part of the Wagner Journal ‘family’ since its inception and his passing is a severe wrench for us all. Not only had David contributed to every issue save three of the journal since the first in 2007 – usually CD reviews but occasionally longer feature articles – but his authoritative, perceptive writing had enhanced previous publications of mine too.