Frederick Fennell
Few conductors have had the effect upon band music that Dr. Frederick Fennel had. This month we feature 9 of his best CD’s at our shop. He did many others, but the Eastman Wind Ensemble recordings hold a special place in my heart.
Dr. Frederick Fennell was born July 2, 1914 in Cleveland, Ohio, and passed away on December 7, 2004. He studied at the Eastman School of Music on the University of Rochester campus, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in 1937 and a Master of Music degree two years later. He became a member of the Eastman conducting faculty in 1939, founded the Eastman Wind Ensemble in 1952, and received an Honorary Doctorate from Eastman in 1988.
The first Fennell record I ever owned (and still own) was the early green covered album with the tin soldiers on aligned in formation. It was recorded in the early 1960’s. One side was all Sousa,: “Fairest of the Fair”, “Daughters of Texas”, “Rifle Regiment”, among others. The B-side had “March Carillon” by Howard Hanson, “Pieces of Eight”, and other exciting marches. WOW! The recorded sound was superb. I was soon to learn about this omni microphone technique that the Eastman Wind Ensemble used at the Eastman Theater while doing these recordings.
I went on the collect all the Leroy Anderson recordings that Fennell made with the Eastman Rochester Pops, as well as the other fine recordings of wind ensemble music with the Eastman Wind Ensemble. Altogether, Frederick Fennell made 22 albums for Mercury Records, granting him a unique position in the annals of the recording art.
Dr. Fennell was conductor of the Cleveland Symphonic Winds when he made the first symphonic digital recording in the United States for Telarc Records in 1978. The maestro also pioneered high definition compatible digital (HDCD) recordings with the Dallas Wind Symphony. The maestro has also recorded for CBS-Sony, Nippon-Columbia, King and Kosei labels.
Stereo Review selected the Fennell/Eastman Wind Ensemble recording of Percy Grainger’s Linconshire Posy as one of the Fifty Best Recordings of the Centenary of the Phonograph, 1877-1977. In 1977, he was named consultant to the Scala Memorial Fund Library of Congress. That same year, he received the Eastman School of Music Alumni Citation for the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Eastman Wind Ensemble. When one discusses conductors who have made an impact on the recording industry, (especially band and wind ensemble music) Frederick Fennell’s name is at the top of the list.
Frederick Fennell’s conducting resume outside of recordings is extensive and impressive as well. He has served as conductor of the Columbia University American Festival, the National Music Camp, the Yaddo Music Period, the Eastman-Rochester Pops Orchestra and the Eastman Opera Theatre, among others. He has been principal guest conductor of the Interlochen Arts Academy, and other guest conducting stints include frequent appearances with the Boston Pops Orchestra as well as performances with the Carnegie Hall Pops Concerts and the Boston Esplanade concerts. He has appeared with the Denver, San Diego, National, Hartford, St. Louis and London Symphonies; the Buffalo, Calgary and Greater Miami Philharmonic Orchestras, the Cleveland Orchestra and the New Orleans Philharmonic.
I had the honor and thrill to play under Fennell on two occasions when he came to guest conduct our Wind Ensemble at the New England Conservatory when I was a student. I felt like a “normal” kid from Maryland would have felt had he been meeting Brooks Robinson or Johnny Unitas. Frederick Fennell was my hero! His energy on the podium was intensive in the most positive way possible. Wit, charm and charisma flowed from this man when he conducted. It was contagious, as we expressed it in our playing. Playing snare drum on "Then Good Soldier Schweik" under Frederick Fennell remains one of the highlights of my career. I don’t think I’ve ever played better!
He gave a seminar during his few days at New England and he picked me out of the audience to question:
FF: “What do YOU want to do with your music career?”
BW: (after hemming and hauling) “I want to play percussion in an orches…..” I want to play percussion in a band.”
My dream came true, and those early recordings of Fennell have shaped my musical life and lead me in the right direction. I now play percussion in the Royal Hawaiian Band. Thank you, Dr. Fennell.
But enough about me, and more to the point: If you want to hear band music conducted, performed and recorded they way it should be, check out all of Frederick Fennell’s recordings. Nobody did it better!
Bill Wiley