The city of Honolulu is in mourning over the death of Ian Capps, president emeritus of Early Music Hawaii and host of Hawaii Public Radio’s “The Early Muse,” and longtime news executive.

There is a wonderful richness and variety in Western music before the year 1700. The Early Muse is a weekly one-hour program conceived by HPR’s Director of Operations Charles Husson and music volunteer Ian Capps, author and host of the program. Its aim is to bring to life for listeners the 500 formative years of European music from Medieval chant and troubadour songs, through the rich polyphony of Renaissance sacred and secular music, and into the Baroque ‘revolution’ of the 17th century with its invention of the opera, oratorio, ballet and orchestral music as we know it today.

Here’s what Bill Dorman of the KHPR wrote:

Ian Capps carried a cosmopolitan civility as effortlessly and as naturally as he wore his intellectual curiosity. He first came to HPR as a volunteer when he and his wife, Jeannette, came in to answer phones during an HPR pledge drive shortly after they relocated from New York City to her home state in 2002.

It was his love of music that first brought Capps to HPR, and a shared interest in singing Renaissance music that first brought him together with Jeannette when they both lived in New York.

At HPR, Capps brought his passion for the development of Western music over the 500 years from the 12th through the 17th centuries and gave it life with his weekly program “The Early Muse.” Starting in December 2004, he hosted the weekly program without fail for more than two decades.

He also created the nonprofit organization Early Music Hawaiʻi, which has put on concerts in Hawaiʻi by leading local and international performers of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music.

Born and raised in London, Capps was an Oxford University graduate who carried warm memories of Queen Elizabeth and her coronation. He described the scene and the hope that went with it while talking with HPRʻs Catherine Cruz on the death of the queen.

His HPR colleague of many years Gene Schiller said he never heard Capps say an unkind word about anyone, “with the possible exception of Gilbert and Sullivan.”⁠ (Haha!)

The complete article may be found here.

Current Early Music Hawaii president, Scott Fikse, posted:

The world has lost a wonderfully intelligent, kind, good-humored, clever, and talented man. Over the course of the last two weeks I’ve been reflecting on the impact he’s had on my life. Ian encouraged me, believed in me, and was a constant source of good conversation, intriguing stories, and laughter. He also nurtured my love of early music in profound ways. This piece by HPR is a lovely tribute to a one of a kind individual, an irreplaceable person who so many of us will miss dearly. Requiescat in pace, Ian.

Meanwhile, here are some more remembrances of Ian:

This whole community will miss you deeply, Ian! I hope you know what an impace you made. (Erica Glenn)

I am so very ssory to hear this. I had a few chances to work with him and feel very lucky for that. (Esha Neogy)

We are very sad indeed to have heard from Jeannette that Ian was in hospital and then from his sister, Joan, that Ian had died. We are deeply saddened by this news, as Jeff had known Ian since being a fellow singer in Goldsmiths Choral Union in London in the 1970s. That strong friendship flourished over the decades since then and we are both proud to have called him a true and loving friend, with Jeannette by his side. (Jeff Kelly)

This makes me so sad. Rest in peace, Ian. Sending all of my aloha to Jeannette and their entire ohana. (Si Sienna)

This is so sad. RIP, Ian. Thank you for the wonderful program and your vision, I will miss you. Sending love to Jeannette! (JungHae Kim)

I am so grateful for his programs, and this is very sad news. (Deborah Ward)

So sorry to hear this news! Condolences to his family. (Judy Linsenberg)

This is just so sad! RIP Ian! It was great working with you and Jeannette over the years! (Mark Cudek)

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Today Scott Fikse wrote that “Several of our supporters have been asking about making a donation in memory of Ian Capps. We appreciate all of your support and want to assure our audience that — just as Ian would want it — Early Music Hawaii will continue on, honoring his legacy and his of early music. You can send your tax-deductible donations here.