Frederick Swann

Infobox Person
name = Frederick Swann

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birth_date = 1931
birth_place = West Virginia, United States | death_date =
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occupation = Organist and President of American Guild of Organists
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Frederick Swann (born 1931) is a prominent American concert organist, recording artist, choral conductor, and former president of the American Guild of Organists (AGO). During his career spanning more than a half-century, he has performed on most of the well-known pipe organs in the world and made numerous compact disc recordings.cite news |author=Vivien Schweitzer |title=Frederick Swann at Riverside Church: A Master of the Organ, With the Curtain Pulled Back |publisher="The New York Times" |date=2006-08-04 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/04/arts/music/04swan.html?_r=1&scp |accessdate=2008-04-15 ] Frederick Swann now lives in Palm Desert, California, where he is Organ Artist-in-residence at [http://www.stmargarets.org St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church] and professor of organ at the University of Redlands.

Early years and education

Frederick Swann, born in West Virginia in 1931 as the son of a Methodist bishop, began playing the organ in church as a nowrap|10-year old. He earned degrees in music from Northwestern University and the old School of Sacred Music at the Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, both degrees granted "with distinction".

Career as an organist

Swann was associated with the music ministry of the famed Riverside Church in New York City from 1952 through 1982, first as substitute organist (1952–1957), then as organist (1957–1965) joining the legendary Virgil Fox there until the latter's departure in 1964. Between 1966–1982, Swann was organist, choir director, and director of music at Riverside.

Beginning in 1982, Swann was organist and music director at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. During his tenure at the Crystal Cathedral (1982–1998), he was widely regarded as the most visible organist in the world, as millions in every major city in more than 165 countries worldwide saw and heard him on the weekly televised services. Swann then served as organist of the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, California between 1998 and 2001, playing one of the largest church organs in the world. The gargantuan instrument has more than 20,000 individual pipes. [cite web |title=The largest pipe organs in the world |publisher="Sacred Classics" |url=http://www.atlascom.us/bigpipes.htm |accessdate=2008-04-14]

As an internationally recognized concert organist, he frequently performs at recitals throughout North America, Europe and the Far East. In one recent season, Mr. Swann performed more than 40 recitals throughout North America and in two European tours, including special appearances at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, St. Paul's Cathedral in London; and Passau Cathedral in Germany. Widely known for dedicating new organs, said to exceed 600 in churches, concert halls, and auditoriums during his long career, Mr. Swann was chosen in 2004 to inaugurate the 6,125-pipe organ of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall. [cite news |author=Craig R. Whitney |title=Pipes Askew, It Still Needs to Sing |publisher="The New York Times"
date=2004-05-11 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/11/science/11ORGA.html?ex=1208577600&en=1bff53aec61ce3b3&ei=5070 |accessdate=2008-04-17 ] Other notable dedications include the new instruments at Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Illinois, with the Chicago Symphony in 1981 and at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, California, with the San Francisco Symphony, in 1984. The "Los Angeles Times" called Swann's playing "Splendid, probing, brilliant and entertaining ... As always, Swann is an inspiration". [cite web |title=Frederick Swann, concert artist |publisher=The Desert Friends of Music |url=http://www.stmargarets.org/StartPage/Ministries/2007-08ConcertSeason.html#FredSwann2008 |date=2007-2008 |accessdate=2008-04-17 ]

Teaching

Swann has served on the faculties of New York City's Union Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music, Teacher's College of Columbia University, and chaired the Organ Department of the Manhattan School of Music for ten years. He is currently professor of organ at the University of Redlands in California.cite journal |title=Recital and Gala Benefit Reception Honoring Frederick Swann |date=2008-04-13 |publisher=American Guild of Organists ]

President of AGO

In 2002, Frederick Swann was elected president of the American Guild of Organists (AGO). He was re-elected in July, 2006, to a third two-year term as president of the 25,000 member organization. [cite web |title=About the AGO |url=http://www.agohq.org |accessdate=2007-09-15 ] In 2002, he was named "International Performer of the Year" by the New York Chapter of the AGO. On April 13, 2008, the AGO saluted him at an AGO Gala recital at First Congregational Church in Los Angeles as the "Crown Prince of the King of Instruments" for his "dedicated service ... for more than a half century". On July 1, 2008, Swann was succeeded by Eileen Guenther as president of the AGO. [cite web|title=American Guild of Organists Elects 2008–2010 National Council|date=2008-06-30|url=http://www.agohq.org/cgi-bin/cginews.pl?record=64 |accessdate=2008-07-16 ]

Published works

Swann's published compositions include "Let the Whole Creation Cry" and organ arrangements of familiar hymns such as "Amazing Grace", "How Great Thou Art", "Fairest Lord Jesus" and "O God Our Help in Ages Past". His discography of organ and choral recordings includes:
*"At Riverside Church"
*"Easter — The Way to Emmaus"
*"Four Organ Masterworks"
*"Great Organs of 1st Congregational Church"
*"Hymns on the Crystal Cathedral Organ"
*"Music from Riverside" (4 vols.)
*"Mystic Organ"
*"O Magnify the Lord"
*"Riverside Revisited"
*"Sing We Now of Christmas"
*"Swann at the Organ of the National Shrine"
*"Swann plays Franck at Riverside Church"
*"We Sing the Power"

References

External links

* [http://www.agohq.org American Guild of Organists (official website)]
* [http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/listings/2003/0337/ "Swann Song"] — Frederick Swann on "Pipedreams" September 15,2003 (audio)