Peter Racine Fricker

Peter Racine Fricker ( born September 5, 1920 in London, † 1 February 1990 in Santa Barbara ( California)) was an English- American composer and music educator.

Life

Fricker, a descendant of the French poet Jean Racine, studied with RO Morris and Ernest Bullock at the Royal College of Music in London. After he had served in World War II in the Royal Air Force military service, he took lessons with Mátyás Seiber. Later, he taught as a professor of composition at the Royal College of Music and in 1952 successor of Michael Tippett in the office of music director of the Morley College. In 1964 Fricker a visiting professor at the University of California in Santa Barbara on.

Six years later he moved permanently to the U.S. to pursue his teaching constantly. In 1970 he became chairman of the Music Department, 1979 was recognized him with the title of "Faculty Research Lecturer" the highest academic award of the University. After moving Fricker, formerly one of the most respected British composer was, in his old home largely ignored, even though he tried not to let tear off his contacts with the musical life in the United Kingdom. He was 1984-1986 President of the Cheltenham International Festival of Music and Literature in England.

Work

Fricker was primarily influenced by Arnold Schoenberg, Béla Bartók and Paul Hindemith and thus distanced himself decided by the English musical styles of the first half of the 20th century, from how they were approximately represented by Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams. His works are characterized by chromatic melodies, tonal dissonant harmonies and contrapuntal writing. While his earlier compositions are still anchored primarily in the form of classical traditions, show the data written in America a move towards freer formal design methods.

Peter Racine Fricker composed five symphonies and other orchestral works, concertos, chamber and choral music (eg, the oratorio The Vision of Judgement ) as well as pieces for organ and piano.