Fricker, Peter Racine

Fricker, Peter Racine (b London, 1920; d Santa Barbara, 1990). Eng. composer. Served RAF 1941–6. Won Clements Prize 1947 with wind quintet, and Koussevitzky award with his sym. No.1 (f.p. cond. Barbirolli, Cheltenham 1950). Won Arts Council Fest. of Britain award for young composers, 1951, with vn. conc. Prof. of comp., RCM 1955–64, dir. of mus., Morley Coll., 1952–64, visiting prof. of mus., Univ. of Calif. (S. Barbara) 1964, prof. from 1965, chairman of mus. dept. 1970–4. One of first post-1945 Eng. composers to develop individual style derived from influences of Bartók, Stravinsky, and Schoenberg. Prin. comps.:ORCH.: sym. No.1 (1949), No.2 (1950–1), No.3 (1960), No.4 (1966), No.5 (1975–6); Prelude, Elegy, and Finale, str. (1949); Dance Scene (1954); Litany, double str. orch. (1955); 3 Scenes (1966); 7 Counterpoints (1967); Sinfonia in memoriam Benjamin Britten, 17 wind instr. (1976–7); Concerto for Orchestra (1986); Walk by Quiet Waters (1989).CONCERTOS: vn. (1949–50); cor anglais and str. (or pf.) (1950); 3 pf., str., timp. (1951); va. (1952); pf. (1952–4); vn. No.2 (Rapsodia Concertante) (1952–4); Toccata, pf. (1958–9); Laudi Concertati, org., orch. (1979); Rondeaux, hn., orch. (1982).VOICE & INSTR(S).: Night Landscape, sop., str. trio (1947); 3 Sonnets by Cecco Angiolieri, ten., 7 instr. (1947); Tomb of St Eulalia, elegy, counter-tenor, va. da gamba, hpd. (1955); Cantata, ten., chamber orch. (1962); O Longs désirs, 5 songs, sop., orch. (1963); The Day and the Spirits, sop., hp. (1966–7); Some Superior Nonsense, ten., chamber ens. (1968); The Roofs, coloratura sop., perc. (1970); Come, sleep, cont., alto fl., bcl. (1972); 2 Songs, bar., pf. (1977).CHORAL: Madrigals (a cappella) (1947); Musick's Empire, ch., small orch. (1955); The Vision of Judgement, oratorio, sop., ten., ch., orch. (1957–8); Ave Maris Stella (1967); Magnificat (1968); Whispers at these Curtains; bar., ch., boys’ ch., orch. (1984).CHAMBER MUSIC: wind quintet (1947); str. qt. No.1 (1947), No.2 (1952–3), No.3 (1975), No.4 (1976); vn. sonata No.1 (1950), No.2 (1988); hn. sonata (1955); vc. sonata (1956); octet (1957–8); Serenade No.1, 6 instr. (1959), No.2, fl., ob., pf. (1959), No.3, sax. qt. (1969); 4 Dialogues, ob., pf. (1965); Fantasy, va., pf. (1966); Refrains, ob. (1968); 3 Arguments, bn., vc. (1969); Paseo, gui. (1969); The Groves of Dodona, 6 fl. (1973); Spirit Puck, cl., perc. (1974); Aspects of Evening, vc., pf. (1985).KEYBOARD: Suite, hpd. (1957); Variations, pf. (1957–8); 14 Aubades, pf. (1958); 12 Studies, pf. (1961); Episodes I, pf. (1967–8), II, pf. (1969); sonata, 2 pf. (1977); Anniversary, pf. (1978).ORGAN: Sonata (1947); Choral (1956); Pastorale (1959); Ricercare (1965); 6 Pieces (1968); Toccata (1968); Praeludium (1970); Intrada (1971); Trio Sonata (1974); Invention and Little Toccata (1976).