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Frederick Swann
Swann Song
After sixty years as a church musician, Frederick Swann is hanging up his organ shoes. We celebrate his art as he reminisces about his life experiences.
He came to prominence first as organist at the Riverside Church in New York City. This week, we’ll review the remarkable career of Frederick Swann, one of the most highly regarded American organists, as he reflects on his sixty-year career in the spotlight. In music by Franck and Farnam, Clarence Dickinson and some of his own compositions, we’ll hear Fred at Riverside, the Crystal Cathedral and First Congregational Church, Los Angeles, all churches with pipe organs of more than 200 stops each.
Even as a kid he knew what he wanted to do, and has done it masterfully a life fully lived Frederick Swann. Tune in for his Swann Song, with every verse an adventure.
Program Broadcast dates:
- September 15, 2003
Featured Organs:
The organ at the Riverside Church - The organ at the Crystal Cathedral
- The organ at First Congregational Church, LA
Links and Resources
Fred Swann began his career at the age of 10. He has presided over three of the largest church pipe organs in America and has played recitals throughout the world. He serves as president of the American Guild of Organists.
Music played in the program
SETH BINGHAM: The Bells of Riverside (Riverside Church, New York, NY) Gothic CD-49086
LYNWOOD FARNAM: Toccata on O Filii et Filiae (Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1118/Riverside Church, New York, NY) Gothic CD-49082
EDWARD ELGAR: Prologue to The Apostles –Riverside Church Choir, Fred Swann, conductor (Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1118/Riverside Church, New York, NY) Gothic CD-49131
CLARENCE DICKINSON: The Joy of the Re-deemed (Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1118/Riverside Church, New York, NY) Gothic CD-49086
FREDERICK SWANN: Let the whole creation cry.
SWANN: Trumpet Tune.
SWANN: Prayer.
SWANN: The Unchanging God –Crystal Cathedral Choir, Fred Swann, conductor (Aeolian-Skinner+Ruffatti/Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, CA) Gothic CD-49048
SWANN (arr.): The Queen’s Prayer (1961 Aeolian-Skinner/Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, Honolulu, HI) Gothic CD-49092
SWANN: Fanfare a Saint Clothilde (Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1118/Riverside Church, New York, NY) Gothic CD-49086C. S.
LANG: Tuba Tune (1997 Reuter/Saint Mel Catholic Church, Woodland Hills, CA). G. F. HANDEL: Voluntary on a Flight of Angels (Reuter/First German United Methodist Church, Glendale, CA) Gothic CD-49102
JOHN WEAVER: Fugue on Saint Denio (1932 Skinner; 1969 Schlicker organs/First Congregational Church, Los Angeles, CA) Gothic CD-49118
CÉSAR FRANCK: Choral No. 1 in E (Aeolian-Skinner+Ruffatti/Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, CA) Gothic CD-49049