Frederick Fennell
Frederick Fennell | |
---|---|
Cleveland, Ohio | |
Died | December 7, 2004 Siesta Key, Florida | (aged 90)
Occupation(s) | Conductor |
Instrument(s) | Drums |
Frederick Fennell /fəˈnɛl/ (July 2, 1914 – December 7, 2004) was an American
Early life
Fennell was born in
His studies at the
Fennell formed a compatible and fruitful relationship with the
Fennell also studied conducting with Serge Koussevitzky at the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood in 1942 (with classmates Leonard Bernstein, Lukas Foss and Walter Hendl). He was appointed Koussevitzky's assistant at the Center in 1948. During World War II, Fennell served as the National Musical Advisor for the USO (United Service Organizations). [citation needed]
Eastman Wind Ensemble
While Fennell was recuperating from
Fennell's recordings
Conducting the Eastman Wind Ensemble, the
Nearly all of Fennell's Mercury recordings were reissued on compact disc. Fennell and the Eastman Wind Ensemble were also featured in the premiere issuance of Mercury material on compact disc. In 1986, 24 Sousa marches performed by the Eastman Wind Ensemble were transferred to compact disc by Philips Records, which now owned the Mercury catalog.[2]
Fennell made the first symphonic digital recording in the United States for
Career After Eastman
Fennell was associate music director of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (later renamed the
On the podium, he evinced a courtly yet commanding manner despite his diminutive (5'1") stature. He was known to take charge of a room with words alone, and his conducting was extremely animated. His conducting workshops were famous for including calisthenics and baton-technique exercises in swimming pools. He remained highly active in the world of conducting until a few months before his death at the age of ninety at his home in Siesta Key, Florida. At the time, he was conductor laureate of the
Awards and honors
Fennell received Columbia University's Alice M.
Fennell was said to be most fond of the honorary doctorate he was awarded from Eastman, being inducted as an honorary chief of the
Fennell was a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the national fraternity for men in music (initiated into the Fraternity's Alpha Nu Chapter at the Eastman School of Music in 1934), and Kappa Kappa Psi, the National Honorary Band Fraternity.[8]
Frederick Fennell Hall was dedicated in Kofu, Japan on July 17, 1992. On April 4, 2006, the Interlochen Center for the Arts opened up state of the art music and academic libraries, with the music library named in honor and memory of Fennell and his wife, Elizabeth Ludwig Fennell.[9]
Fennell died in Siesta Key, Florida. His daughter, Catherine Fennell Martensen, stated that on his deathbed Fennell had said, "I cannot die without a drummer." She added that his last words were: "I hear him. I'm O.K. now."[10]
Fennell's writings
Fennell wrote several books: Time and the Winds, a Short History of the Use of Wind Instruments in the Orchestra, Band and the Wind Ensemble, 1954; The Drummer’s Heritage, a Collection of Popular Airs and Official U.S. Army Music for Fifes and Drums, 1956; and The Wind Ensemble, 1988. Fennell was commissioned by Grenadilla Music to write a major article on 20th Century band composers and their music. The article was published in volume one of "Panorama of 20th Century Classical Music" subtitled, "BAND! (Wind Ensembles, Brass & Concert Bands" and is currently available at www.grenadillamusic.com.[citation needed]
He also edited for several music publishers:
Fennell wrote an original march in 1951, "Tally-Ho March," in honor of the Tally-Ho Music Camp and its founders, Fred and Dorotha Bradley.[11]
Selected discography
Source:[12]
- Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conductor. American Concert Band Masterpieces. Mercury Records MG40006/MG50079, 1953.
- Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conductor. Marches by Sousa and Other. Mercury Records MG40007/MG50080, 1953.
- Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conductor. La Fiesta Mexicana. Mercury Records MG40011/MG50084, 1954.
- Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conductor. Folk Song Suites and Other British Band Classics. Mercury Records MG40015/MG50088, 1955.
- Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conductor. Marching Along. Mercury Records MG50105/MWS5-14/SR90105, 1956.
- Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conductor. Hindemith/Schoenberg/Stravinsky. Mercury Records MG501434/SR90143, 1957.
- Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conductor. British Band Classic, Vol. 2. Mercury Records MG50197/SR90197, 1958.
- Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conductor. Sousa on Review (Marches by John Philip Sousa). Mercury Records MG50284/SR90284, 1961.
- Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conductor. Screamers! (Circus Marches). Mercury Records MG50314/SR90314, 1957.
Further reading
- The 1993 Roger E. Rickson book Ffortissimo: a Bio-Discography of Frederick Fennell: the First Forty Years, 1953 to 1993, (Ludwig Music, Inc., publisher) ISBN 1-57999-472-5.
- The Frederick Fennell Collection at the Library of Congress includes over 20,000 items (scrapbooks, letters, photographs).[13]
References
- ^ Wakin, Daniel J. Frederick Fennell, 90, Innovative Band Conductor, Dies, The New York Times, December 9, 2004. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
- ^ Mercury 434 300-2, copyright 1992 Philips Classic Productions, manufactured and marketed by PolyGram Classics & Jazz, A Division of Poly Gram Records, Inc., New York, New York.
- ^ Eddy, Tracy. ""The Bass Drum Heard 'Round the World": Telarc, Frederick Fennell, and an Overture to Digital Recording". IEEE. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
- ^ Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra
- ^ "Frederick Fennell Dies". Teaching Music. 12 (4): 15. 2005.
- ^ "Award Winners". www.conductorsguild.org. Archived from the original on October 6, 2006. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ "Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia - Sinfonia News". Archived from the original on April 15, 2013.
- ^ "Famous Sinfonians – Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia". Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ^ "Music Library | Interlochen Center for the Arts". www.interlochen.org. Archived from the original on May 22, 2009.
- ^ Wakin, Daniel J. (December 9, 2004). "Frederick Fennell, 90, Innovative Band Conductor, Dies". The New York Times.
- ^ "Frederick Fennell – Tally-Ho Music Camp". Retrieved September 28, 2023.
- ISBN 1878822462.
- ^ [1]
External links
Archives at | ||||
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How to use archival material |
- Dallas Wind Symphony conducted by Frederick Fennell on the audiophile label: Reference Recordings
- Fennell, Frederick: "The Sousa March: A Personal View"
- Orchestral development of the kettledrum from Purcell through Beethoven. Fennell's MM thesis—University of Rochester. From Sibley Music Library Digital Scores Collection
Interviews
- Frederick Fennell interview, December 16, 1987