Frederick Swann
Encyclopedia
Frederick L. Swann is a prominent American
church and concert organist
, recording artist, choral conductor
, and former president of the American Guild of Organists
(2002–2008). During his career spanning more than a half-century, he has performed on most of the well-known pipe organ
s in the world and made numerous compact disc
recordings. Swann has been called "one of the country's most distinguished organists". He is
Organist Emeritus of the Crystal Cathedral
and the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles
.
Swann currently lives in Palm Desert, California
, where he is Artist-in-residence at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church and University Organist and Artist Teacher of Organ at the University of Redlands
.
in 1931. The son of Methodist
bishop Theodore M. Swann, he began taking piano lessons as a from the organist at Braddock Street United Methodist Church in Winchester, Virginia
, where his father was pastor 1937–1943. He told an interviewer in later years that he was "mesmerized when I saw the organ console for the first time" at the church and soon began taking organ lessons. By the age of ten, Swann was playing the church's organ for services when his teacher died suddenly.
Swann's older brother, Edgar, also an organist, was killed in action
early in World War II
. A sister died in September 2008.
The Swanns moved to Staunton Virginia in 1943 and Frederick, known then as "Freddie" continued his organ study with Dr. Carl Broman, professor of music at Mary Baldwin College. Lessons were on the Emmons Howard organ at Trinity Episcopal Church. After graduating from Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton, Virginia
, where he played the piano for the school's chorus, Swann attended Northwestern University
. 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".
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.
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, Swann was chosen to dedicate 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. On September 30, 2004, he played the inaugural concert of the 6,125-pipe organ of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
at Walt Disney Concert Hall
. The following month, he performed at the largest pipe organ in the island nation of Bermuda
, playing the 88-rank organ of St. Paul's Anglican Church there.
The Los Angeles Times
called Swann's playing "Splendid, probing, brilliant and entertaining ... As always, Swann is an inspiration". Baltimore Sun
music critic Tim Smith has called him "one of the country's most distinguished organists". Swann is currently Artist-in-residence at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, California.
, Teacher's College of Columbia University
, and chaired the Organ Department of the Manhattan School of Music
for ten years. He is currently University Organist and Artist Teacher of Organ at the University of Redlands
in California.
(AGO). He was re-elected in July, 2006, to a third two-year term as president of the 25,000 member organization.
In 2002, he was named "International Performer of the Year" by the New York City 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. At the AGO's July, 2010, national convention in Washington, D.C.
, Swann was presented the Edward Hansen Award for Outstanding Leadership by the organization's vice president, John Walker
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
church and concert organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, recording artist, choral conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, and former president of the American Guild of Organists
American Guild of Organists
The American Guild of Organists, or AGO, is a national organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the U.S., headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City. It was founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization...
(2002–2008). During his career spanning more than a half-century, he has performed on most of the well-known pipe organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
s in the world and made numerous compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
recordings. Swann has been called "one of the country's most distinguished organists". He is
Organist Emeritus of the Crystal Cathedral
Crystal Cathedral
The Crystal Cathedral is a Protestant Christian church building in the city of Garden Grove, in Orange County, California, United States. It is the headquarters and principal place of worship for Crystal Cathedral Ministries, a church founded in 1955 by Robert H. Schuller and affiliated with the...
and the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Swann currently lives in Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
, where he is Artist-in-residence at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church and University Organist and Artist Teacher of Organ at the University of Redlands
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
.
Early years and education
Frederick Swann was born in West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
in 1931. The son of Methodist
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
bishop Theodore M. Swann, he began taking piano lessons as a from the organist at Braddock Street United Methodist Church in Winchester, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
, where his father was pastor 1937–1943. He told an interviewer in later years that he was "mesmerized when I saw the organ console for the first time" at the church and soon began taking organ lessons. By the age of ten, Swann was playing the church's organ for services when his teacher died suddenly.
Swann's older brother, Edgar, also an organist, was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
early in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A sister died in September 2008.
The Swanns moved to Staunton Virginia in 1943 and Frederick, known then as "Freddie" continued his organ study with Dr. Carl Broman, professor of music at Mary Baldwin College. Lessons were on the Emmons Howard organ at Trinity Episcopal Church. After graduating from Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton, Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
, where he played the piano for the school's chorus, Swann attended Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. 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
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
, both degrees granted "with distinction".
Career as an organist
Swann was associated with the music ministry of the famed Riverside ChurchRiverside Church
The Riverside Church in the City of New York is an interdenominational church in New York City, famous for its elaborate Neo-Gothic architecture—which includes the world's largest tuned carillon bell...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1952 through 1982, first as substitute organist (1952–1957), then as organist (1957–1965) joining the legendary Virgil Fox
Virgil Fox
Virgil Keel Fox was an American organist, known especially for his flamboyant "Heavy Organ" concerts of the music of Bach. These events appealed to audiences in the 1970s who were more familiar with rock 'n' roll music and were staged complete with light shows...
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
Crystal Cathedral
The Crystal Cathedral is a Protestant Christian church building in the city of Garden Grove, in Orange County, California, United States. It is the headquarters and principal place of worship for Crystal Cathedral Ministries, a church founded in 1955 by Robert H. Schuller and affiliated with the...
in Garden Grove, California
Garden Grove, California
Garden Grove is a city located in northern Orange County, California. The population was 170,883 at the 2010 census. State Route 22, also known as the Garden Grove Freeway, passes through the city running east-west. The city is known outside the Southern California area for being the home of Robert H...
. 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
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern 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.
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, Swann was chosen to dedicate the new instruments at Orchestra Hall
Orchestra Hall
Orchestra Hall may refer to:*Symphony Center, home of Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Illinois*Orchestra Hall *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
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
, in 1984. On September 30, 2004, he played the inaugural concert of the 6,125-pipe organ of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Walt Disney Concert Hall
The Walt Disney Concert Hall at 111 South Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, California is the fourth hall of the Los Angeles Music Center. Bounded by Hope Street, Grand Avenue, 1st and 2nd Streets, it seats 2,265 people and serves as the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra and the...
. The following month, he performed at the largest pipe organ in the island nation of Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, playing the 88-rank organ of St. Paul's Anglican Church there.
The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
called Swann's playing "Splendid, probing, brilliant and entertaining ... As always, Swann is an inspiration". Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
music critic Tim Smith has called him "one of the country's most distinguished organists". Swann is currently Artist-in-residence at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, California.
Teaching
Swann has served on the faculties of New York City's Union Theological Seminary School of Sacred MusicUnion Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
, Teacher's College of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and chaired the Organ Department of the Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
for ten years. He is currently University Organist and Artist Teacher of Organ at the University of Redlands
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
in California.
President of AGO
In 2002, Swann was elected president of the American Guild of OrganistsAmerican Guild of Organists
The American Guild of Organists, or AGO, is a national organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the U.S., headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City. It was founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization...
(AGO). He was re-elected in July, 2006, to a third two-year term as president of the 25,000 member organization.
In 2002, he was named "International Performer of the Year" by the New York City 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. At the AGO's July, 2010, national convention in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Swann was presented the Edward Hansen Award for Outstanding Leadership by the organization's vice president, John Walker
John Walker (organist)
John C. Walker , more familiarly known as John Walker, is an American concert organist, choirmaster, and CD recording artist. Walker has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe...
.
Published works
Swann's published compositions include Let the Whole Creation Cry and Trumpet Tune in D Major (1991), along with 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
External links
- American Guild of Organists (official website)
- "Swann Song" — Frederick Swann on PipedreamsPipedreamsPipedreams is a radio music program produced and distributed by American Public Media, hosted by Michael Barone. The program is available on APM stations and its website. Each two-hour show features organ music and centres around a theme such as a particular organ, venue, organ maker, performer,...
September 15, 2003 (audio) - St. Margaret's Episcopal Church