Herbert Austin Fricker
Herbert Austin Fricker (born February 12, 1868 in Canterbury , † November 11, 1943 in Toronto ) was a Canadian choir director, organist, music teacher and composer of English origin.
Fricker had his first lessons with William A. Longhurst , the organist of Canterbury Cathedral , where he was chorister from 1977 to 1883 and from 1884 to 1890 assistant organist . He continued his education in London with Frederick Bridge and Edwin Lemare and had his first organist position from 1891 to 1898 at Trinity Church in Folkstone. He then became a city organist in Leeds. Here he founded the Leeds Philharmonic in 1900 and the Leeds Symphony Orchestra in 1902 , both of which he directed until 1917. From 1904 to 1913 he was choirmaster at the Leeds Festivals . He has also worked as an organist in various churches and has led choirs in Bradford, Halifax, Dewsbury and Morley.
In 1917 Fricker moved to Canada and took over the direction of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir from Augustus Stephen Vogt . In 1918 the choir appeared for the first time with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski , which resulted in joint appearances in Canada and the USA until 1925. With the choir he gave the Canadian premieres of Beethoven's Missa solemnis (1927), William Walton's Belshazzar's Feast (1936) and Hector Berlioz 's Requiem (1938). At his farewell concert with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir in 1942 he performed Bach's B minor Mass .
In addition, Fricker was organist and choir director at the Metropolitan United Church in Toronto from 1917 to 1943 . He taught at the Toronto Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto , was the conductor of the Canadian National Exhibition Chorus from 1922 to 1934 , acted as a juror in music competitions and performed as a concert organist. He composed organ and choral works, anthems and songs.
Works
- Concert Overture for Organ
- Fantasy overture for organ
- Scherzo Symphonique for organ
- Cantilène Nuptiale for organ
- Song of Thanksgiving
- Sleep, Holy Babe , Anthem
source
- Herbert Austin Fricker ( English, French ) In: Encyclopedia of Music in Canada . published by The Canadian Encyclopedia .
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Fricker, Herbert Austin |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Fricker, Herbert A. |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | English-Canadian choir director, organist, music teacher and composer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 12, 1868 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Canterbury |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 11, 1943 |
| Place of death | Toronto |