Frank William Erickson

Frank William Erickson (1 September 1923 – 21 October 1996) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, writer, and trumpet player.

Growing up

The son of Frank O. and Myrtle Erickson, Frank Erickson was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He began his instrumental career at the age of eight, playing piano, and at age ten, playing trumpet. In high school, he wrote his first composition for band, The Fall of Evening.

World War II

At age nineteen, World War II began. He then served with the United States Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1946. He worked as a weather forecaster and also arranged music for several army bands.

Post World War II

After the war, Erickson worked as a jazz arranger, namely for Earle Spencer and His Orchestra (1946); and he played trumpet. He also studied composition with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco during this time period.

As he wrote music and studied composition, Frank Erickson developed an interest in getting a degree and eventually enrolled at University of Southern California to further his studies in composition. While there, he began arranging half-time shows for the USC marching band. By the time he graduated, he had many published band compositions. His very first was called Little Suite for Band. He graduated from USC with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1950. The next year he went back to USC, and graduated again with a Master of Music degree in 1951. His master thesis was about his own music.

Family

In 1953, Erickon married Mary Theresa McGrorty. They had three sons: William Erickson, Richard Erickson, and Christian Erickson. Mary Theresa McGrorty died in 1975 at the age of 53 years. On August 15, 1981 he married Mary Ann Smith.

Career in higher education

Erickson lectured at University of California, Los Angeles, in 1958. He then became a professor of music at San Jose State University. The 1950s were prolific years for Erickson. His publications of works such as Balladair, Air for Band, Fantasy for Band, and Toccata for Band were quickly popular and led to wide notability in the concert band world. He is also widely known for his book Arranging for the Concert Band, namely by college music majors.

Motivation

At the time many pieces for band were extremely difficult or not great pieces. Erickson loved his students so much he wrote a collection of pieces including Air for Band to expand the band repertoire.

Publishing career

For a number of years, Erickson worked in a publishing company, but years later he became an entrepreneur. He began his own publishing business called Frank Erickson Publications in 1995.

Affiliations

Erickson was a longtime member of the National Band Association, was elected to the Academy of Wind and Percussion Arts in 1986, was a member of American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, was a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the Pi Kappa Lambda, the Phi Beta Mu, and the American Bandmasters Association.

Erickson Collection at Old Dominion University

In 2000, Erickson's widow, Mary Ann Smith, donated all of his compositions to Old Dominion University, which included over 400 works, 200 of which are originals.

• Frank Erickson Collection, Old Dominion University

Selected works

Original compositions

• Balladair (1958); OCLC 28820661, 30076287, 860359047
• Air for Band (1966); OCLC 16753961, 859878100
• Fantasy for Band (1955); OCLC 456301386, 86105322
• Toccata for Band (1957); OCLC 39776207, 898311733
• The Fall of Evening (1940)
• Little Suite for Band (1951); OCLC 32338570, 456089157
• Allegro Animato (1991); OCLC 46914566
• English Folk-Song Fantasy
• Fanfare for a Festival
• Lyric Suite
• Lyric Episode (1991)
• Aria Cantabile (1990); OCLC 778804598
• Overture Jubiloso (1978); OCLC 69678754
• Irish Folk Song Suite (1952); OCLC 33146853
• Arietta And Rondo (1961); OCLC 41011254

Arrangements

• Barcarolle, by Jacques Offenbach (1964); OCLC 856528921
• Children's March, by Percy Grainger (1971); OCLC 220862777, 20873454, 20873454, OCLC 17891480

Selected audio

• "Air," North Texas Wind Symphony
• "Toccata"
• "Pillars of the Earth"
• "Overture Jubiloso," Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra

References

General references

• Biography at The Wind Repertory Project
• 66 Festive & Famous Chorales for Band (1st trombone part), arranged by Frank Erickson, Alfred Publishing (1991)
• Biography, Musquodoboit Rural High School
• The ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, New York

1. Third edition (1966)
2. Fourth edition (1980)

• Biography Index; A cumulative index to biographical material in books and magazines, Volume 10: September 1973 – August 1976, H. W. Wilson Company, New York (1977)
• Contemporary American Composers, A biographical dictionary, First edition, compiled by E. Ruth Anderson, G.K. Hall & Co., Boston (1976)
• Contemporary American Composers. A biographical dictionary. Second edition. Compiled by E. Ruth Anderson. Boston: G.K. Hall & Co. (1982)
• The Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music, Composers and their music, two volumes, by William H. Rehrig, Integrity Press, Westerville, OH (1991)
• The New Grove Dictionary of American Music, four volumes, edited by H. Wiley Hitchcock and Stanley Sadie, Macmillan Press, London (1986)
• Composium Directory of New Music, Annual index of contemporary compositions, 1982/83 edition, Crystal Musicworks, Sedro Woolley, WA (1983)
• International Who's Who in Music and Musicians' Directory, International Who's Who in Music, Cambridge, England

1. Eighth edition, (1977)
2. Ninth edition, edited by Adrian Gaster (1980)
3. 10th edition (1984)
4. 12th edition, 1990–1991. (1990)

• Who's Who in America, Marquis Who's Who

1. 40th edition, 1978–1979, Wilmette, IL (1978)
2. 41st edition, 1980–1981, Wilmette, IL (1980)
3. 42nd edition, 1982–1983, Wilmette, IL (1982)
4. 43rd edition, 1984–1985, Wilmette, IL (1984)
5. 44th edition, 1986–1987, Wilmette, IL (1986)
6. 45th edition, 1988–1989, Wilmette, IL (1988)
7. 46th edition, 1990–1991, Wilmette, IL (1990)
8. 47th edition, 1992–1993, New Providence, NJ (1992)
9. 48th edition, 1994, New Providence, NJ (1993)
10. 49th edition, 1995, New Providence, NJ (1994)
11. 50th edition, 1996, New Providence, NJ (1995)
12. 51st edition, 1997, New Providence, NJ (1996)

• Who's Who in Entertainment, Second edition, 1992-1993, Marquis Who's Who, Wilmette, IL (1992)
• Who Was Who in America, Volume 12, 1996-1998, Marquis Who's Who, New Providence, NJ (1998)

Inline citations