Editing Frederick Fennell

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{short description|American conductor}}
{{infobox musical artist
|birth_date = {{birth date|1914|7|2}}
|birth_place = [[Cleveland, Ohio]]
|image = Fennell.png
|caption = Frederick Fennell conducting the [[United States Navy Band]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|2004|12|7|1914|7|2}}
|death_place = [[Siesta Key, Florida]]
|background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
|occupation = Conductor
|instrument = Drums
|associated_acts = [[Eastman Wind Ensemble]]<br />[[Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra]]<br />[[Dallas Winds]]
}}

'''Frederick Fennell''' {{IPA|/fəˈnɛl/}} (July 2, 1914 – December 7, 2004) was an American [[conducting|conductor]] and one of the primary figures who promoted the [[Eastman Wind Ensemble]] as a performing group. He was also influential as a band pedagogue, and greatly affected the field of [[music education]] in the US and abroad. In Fennell's [[New York Times]] obituary, colleague [[Jerry Junkin|Jerry F. Junkin]] was quoted as saying "He was arguably the most famous band conductor since [[John Philip Sousa]]."<ref name=nytobit>Wakin, Daniel J. [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/09/arts/music/09fennell.html ''Frederick Fennell, 90, Innovative Band Conductor, Dies''], The New York Times, December 9, 2004. Retrieved March 23, 2010.</ref>

==Early life==
Fennell was born in [[Cleveland, Ohio]]. He chose piccolo as his primary instrument at the age of seven, as drummer in the fife-and-drum corps at the family's encampment called [https://case.edu/ech/articles/c/camp-zeke Camp Zeke]. He owned his first [[drum set]] at age ten. In the [[John Adams High School (Cleveland, Ohio)|John Adams High School]] orchestra, Fennell performed as the [[kettledrum]]mer and served as the band's [[Drum major (marching band)|drum major]].{{citation needed|  date=October 2014}}

His studies at the [[Interlochen Arts Camp]] (then the [[National Music Camp]]) included being chosen by famed bandmaster [[Albert Austin Harding]] as the bass drummer in the National High School Band in 1931. The band was conducted by [[John Philip Sousa]] on July 26, the program including the premiere of Sousa's Northern Pines march. Fennell himself conducted at Interlochen at the age of seventeen. {{citation needed|  date=October 2014}}

Fennell formed a compatible and fruitful relationship with the [[Eastman School of Music]] in [[Rochester, New York]]. As a student, he organized the first [[University of Rochester]] [[marching band]] for the football team and held indoor concerts with the band after the football season for ten years. At Eastman, he completed his bachelor's and master's degrees (in 1937 and 1939). Fennell became the first person to whom the Eastman School of Music awarded a degree in percussion performance. He was also awarded a fellowship that allowed him to study at the [[Mozarteum Salzburg]] in 1938, where he took several courses with [[Herbert Albert]] and visited several times with the festival's chief conductor, the renowned [[Wilhelm Furtwängler]]. Returning, he sailed on the {{SS|Bremen|1928|6}} from [[Southampton]] on September 3, 1938. For the purpose of the passenger manifest, he signed his name as Frederick Putnam Fennell (a rare use of his middle name).  {{citation needed|  date=October 2014}}

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. In 1944, a California newspaper pictured Fennell examining donated musical instruments for WWII servicemen; he was described  as the "national USO ([[United Service Organizations]]) musical advisor for San Diego County."<ref>"County Citizens Make Contributions." Chula Vista (CA) Star, 3 March 1944, 1.</ref>

==Eastman Wind Ensemble==

While Fennell was recuperating from [[hepatitis]] for six weeks in 1952, the idea for a new, smaller type of symphonic band occurred to him:  scaling the typical concert band down to the size of the wind section of a [[symphony orchestra]], allowing for greater clarity and better intonation. He recruited nearly 40 players in May 1952 for this, explaining, “I chose the best students in the school, the best solo performers and the best ensemble players." On September 20, 1952, he conducted the first rehearsal for this new Eastman Wind Ensemble, and its first concert at Eastman's Kilbourn Hall on February 8, 1953. Desiring expanded repertoire, he wrote to nearly 400 composers around the world commissioning appropriate compositions for the new group. The first three composers to respond were [[Percy Grainger]], [[Vincent Persichetti]] and [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]]. {{citation needed|  date=October 2014}}

==Fennell's recordings==

Conducting the Eastman Wind Ensemble, the [[Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra]] and various other groups, Fennell recorded many of the standards of the wind band repertoire. He became one of America's most-recorded conductors. Starting with "American Concert Band Masterpieces" in 1953, Fennell recorded over 300 compositions on 29 albums for [[Mercury Records]] with the Eastman-Rochester "Pops", London "Pops" (actually the [[London Symphony Orchestra]] in shirt-sleeves), and free-lance groups of New York musicians. However, best known are the 22 of the 29 Mercury releases made with Fennell's own [[Eastman Wind Ensemble]]. One of these albums, ''Lincolnshire Posy,'' with music by [[Percy Grainger]] (recorded in 1958), was selected by [[Stereo Review]] magazine as one of the ''50 best recordings of the Centenary of the Phonograph 1877-1977''. The two-volume ''Civil War-Its Music and Its Sounds'', recorded in December 1960, was a notable set also made with the [[Eastman Wind Ensemble]], this time performing on period or [[original instruments]]. In 1961, Fennell received a citation and a medal from the Congressional Committee for the Centennial of the Civil War for this album. In 2003, the 1958 Mercury album ''Winds in Hi-Fi'' was chosen by the [[National Recording Preservation Board]] for the [[National Recording Registry]]. {{citation needed|  date=October 2014}}

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.<ref>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.</ref>

Fennell made the first symphonic digital recording in the United States for [[Telarc]] with the Cleveland Symphonic Winds, on April 4–5, 1978.<ref>{{cite web|last=Eddy|first=Tracy|title="The Bass Drum Heard 'Round the World": Telarc, Frederick Fennell, and an Overture to Digital Recording|url=http://www.todaysengineer.org/2005/Jul/history.asp|publisher=IEEE|access-date=September 26, 2011|archive-date=October 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025071248/http://www.todaysengineer.org/2005/Jul/history.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> The recording included the two Suites for Military Band by [[Gustav Holst]]. With the Dallas Wind Symphony, Fennell recorded five programs of music by Nelhybel, Albeniz, Grainger, Bernstein and more, for Reference Recordings. Fennell also recorded for Brain, [[Columbia Records]], Delos, King, Kosei, Ludwig, Premier Recordings, and Sine Qua Non Superba not to mention the Library of Congress label. {{citation needed|  date=October 2014}}

==Career After Eastman==

Fennell was associate music director of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (later renamed the [[Minnesota Orchestra]]) from 1962 to 1964. In September 1965 he became conductor-in-residence at the [[University of Miami]], where he conducted its symphony orchestra and also founded a wind ensemble. He also served as the resident conductor of the Miami Philharmonic from 1974 to 1975, and as principal guest conductor of the Interlochen Arts Academy and [[Dallas Wind Symphony]]. At the invitation of its players, he was appointed the initial conductor of the [[Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra]] in 1984.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061019005354/http://www.tkwo.jp/english/about/fennell.html Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra]</ref>

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 [[Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra]]; principal guest conductor of the [[Dallas Wind Symphony]]; and [[professor emeritus]] at the [[University of Miami]] Frost School of Music.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2005 |title=Frederick Fennell Dies |journal=Teaching Music |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=15}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==

Fennell received Columbia University's Alice M. [[Ditson Conductor's Award]] in 1969, was presented the Star of the Order from the John Philip Sousa Memorial Foundation in 1985, received an honorary doctorate from Eastman in 1988, and was inducted into the National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors in 1990. He received the Theodore Thomas Award of the Conductor's Guild in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conductorsguild.org/main.asp?pageID=20 |title=Award Winners |website=www.conductorsguild.org |access-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006164942/http://www.conductorsguild.org/main.asp?pageID=20 |archive-date=October 6, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He was also inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2003, he received the [[Charles E. Lutton Man Of Music Award|Charles E. Lutton Man of Music Award]] from [[Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia]] at its national convention in Washington, DC.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sinfonia.org/News/SN-2004-12-07.asp |title = Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia - Sinfonia News |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415194230/http://www.sinfonia.org/News/SN-2004-12-07.asp |archive-date=April 15, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Fennell was said to be most fond of the honorary doctorate he was awarded from Eastman, being inducted as an honorary chief of the [[Kiowa Nation]] in the 1960s, and receiving a medal of honor from Interlochen in 1989. He made frequent appearances guest conducting such ensembles as the [[Boston Pops Orchestra]] 1949 to 1978, [[Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra]], [[Cleveland Orchestra]], [[London Symphony Orchestra]], the [[United States Marine Band]], [[Interlochen Arts Academy]], and the [[Interlochen Arts Camp]]. In 1997, he became the first civilian to conduct an entire concert with the [[United States Marine Band]]; and in July 1998 he repeated this at a concert in the [[Kennedy Center]] celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Marine Band.{{citation needed|  date=October 2014}}

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Famous Sinfonians – Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia |url=https://www.sinfonia.org/famous-sinfonians/ |access-date=2023-09-28 |language=en-US}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interlochen.org/department/music-library |title=Music Library {{!}} Interlochen Center for the Arts |website=www.interlochen.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522145216/http://www.interlochen.org/department/music-library |archive-date=May 22, 2009}} </ref>

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."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/09/arts/music/frederick-fennell-90-innovative-band-conductor-dies.html|title=Frederick Fennell, 90, Innovative Band Conductor, Dies|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 9, 2004|last1=Wakin|first1=Daniel J.}}</ref>

==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|  date=October 2014}}

He also edited for several music publishers: [[Boosey & Hawkes]], [[Carl Fischer Music|Carl Fischer]], [[Theodore Presser]], and [[Sam Fox]].  For the Fennell Editions at Ludwig Music he edited over 50 scores for band performance, including many marches. One of these editions published in 1981 was for his favorite march, [[National Emblem]] by [[Edwin Eugene Bagley]]. He also wrote a series of sixteen articles published in ''[[The Instrumentalist (magazine)|The Instrumentalist]]'' under the heading ‘Basic Band Repertory’ beginning in April 1975 and concluding in February 1984. These articles were devoted to what Fennell called "...indestructible masterpieces for band that have survived the ravages of time and many an inept conductor".{{citation needed|  date=October 2014}}

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frederick Fennell – Tally-Ho Music Camp |url=https://tallyhomusiccamp.org/music-video/fennell/ |access-date=2023-09-28 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1937, Fred Fennel married Dorothy Codner, a violinist he met at Eastman School of Music. They remained happily married for thirty three years. 

== Selected discography ==

Source:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cipolla |first=Frank J. |title=The Wind Ensemble and Its Repertoire |publisher=University of Rochester Press |year=1994 |isbn=1878822462 |location=Rochester, NY |pages=287–292 |language=English}}</ref>

* 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|1-57134-000-9}} covers in detail the Fennell story, with particular attention to recordings. There is also considerable biographical detail in the 2004 Robert Simon book ''A Tribute to Frederick Fennell'' (GIA Publications) {{ISBN|1-57999-472-5}}.
* The Frederick Fennell Collection at the [[Library of Congress]] includes over 20,000 items (scrapbooks, letters, photographs).<ref>http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.scdb.200033609/default.html {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Archival records|title=Frederick Fennell Papers, 1915-2005|location= [[Music Division, Library of Congress]]|description_URL= https://lccn.loc.gov/2006568176}}
*[http://referencerecordings.com/DallasWind.asp#fennell Dallas Wind Symphony conducted by Frederick Fennell on the audiophile label: Reference Recordings]
*[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200152754/default.html Fennell, Frederick: "The Sousa March: A Personal View"]
*[http://hdl.handle.net/1802/4222 Orchestral development of the kettledrum from Purcell through Beethoven.] Fennell's MM thesis—University of Rochester. From Sibley Music Library Digital Scores Collection
*[https://case.edu/ech/articles/c/camp-zeke] Camp Zeke entry in the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

===Interviews===
*[http://www.bruceduffie.com/fennell2.html Frederick Fennell interview], December 16, 1987

{{s-start}}
{{s-culture}}
{{s-bef|before=none''' ''(founder)'''''}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Eastman Wind Ensemble|Conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble]]
       |years=1952&ndash;1961}}
{{s-aft|after=[[A. Clyde Roller]]}}
{{s-bef|before=Tetsusaburo Hirai}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra|Conductor of Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra]]
       |years=1984&ndash;2000}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Douglas Bostock]]}}
{{end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fennell, Frederick}}
[[Category:American conductors (music)]]
[[Category:American male conductors (music)]]
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Eastman School of Music alumni]]
[[Category:University and college band directors]]
[[Category:Musicians from Cleveland]]
[[Category:Eastman School of Music faculty]]
[[Category:Distinguished Service to Music Medal recipients]]
[[Category:20th-century American musicians]]
[[Category:Classical musicians from Ohio]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:John Adams High School (Ohio) alumni]]
[[Category:Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra]]