Kurt Frederick (musician)

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Kurt Frederick, born Kurt Fuchsgelb (4 March 1907 - 28 December 1997), was an Austrian-born musician who later became a conductor in New Mexico, United States.

Biography[edit]

Kurt Frederick was born in Vienna, Austria to Ernestine (née Dohan) and Guido Fuchsgelb.[1]His father worked for the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien (IKG).[2]

Frederick studied at the State Academy of Music in Vienna, now known as the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.[3] He worked as the choir conductor at the Stadttempel, also known as the Seitenstettengasse Temple.[4] Frederick married Gladys Caroline Miller after his escape in 1939. While in New York, Frederick worked as a violist first with the New Friends of Music Orchestra and then with the Kolisch Quartet.[5][6] He and his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in the early 1940s. Frederick was a member of the faculty at the University of New Mexico.[7] His mother, Ernestine Fuchsgelb, was murdered in Auschwitz in 1944.[8] Frederick fled Vienna after the Anschluss and moved to New York City through the rescue efforts of Gladys Kissel Miller Rokos and her daughter,

Gladys Caroline Miller.[9]

Frederick married Gladys Caroline Miller after his escape in 1939. While in New York, Frederick worked as a violist first with the New Friends of Music Orchestra and then with the Kolisch Quartet.[5][6] He and his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in the early 1940s. Frederick was a member of the faculty at the University of New Mexico.[7]

His mother, Ernestine Fuchsgelb, was murdered in Auschwitz in 1944.[8] Frederick gave the world premiere for Ernst Krenek's Fifth Symphony.[10] He also gave the world premiere for Arnold Schoenberg's A Survivor from Warsaw with the Albuquerque Civic Symphony on November 4, 1948. Frederick obtained the world premiere of A Survivor from Warsaw through an arrangement made with Schoenberg in which Frederick agreed to produce copied parts of the score and send them back to Schoenberg.[11] He also played a part in the creation of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and served as its first conductor.[12] Frederick received his PhD in Philosophy of Music from the Eastman School of Music in 1957.

World Premiere of Arnold Schoenberg's 'A Survivor from Warsaw'[edit]

Arnold Schoenberg - Austrian/American Composer thanking Kurt Frederick for his efforts in providing the World Premier of 'A Survivor from Warsaw' in Albuquerque, NM, 1948.

Frederick gave the world premiere for Arnold Schoenberg's A Survivor from Warsaw with the Albuquerque Civic Symphony on November 4, 1948. Frederick obtained the world premiere of A Survivor from Warsaw through an arrangement made with Schoenberg in which Frederick agreed to produce copied parts of the score and send them back to Schoenberg.[11] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Oral History[edit]

Abstract - This interview features Kurt Frederick, a European refugee and conductor of the Albuquerque Civic Symphony Orchestra. Frederick talks about hearing Arnold Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw and then corresponding with the composer in order to perform the work in New Mexico. Furthermore, this interview discusses his introduction to the piece, his correspondences with Schoenberg, the premiere of the work, and also background information on Frederick’s life.[17]

Kurt Frederick reflects on his life in relation to Arnold Schonberg’s music and his career as conductor of the Albuquerque Civic Symphony Orchestra.[18]

Holocaust[edit]

Frederick fled Vienna after the Anschluss and moved to New York City through the rescue efforts of Gladys Kissel Miller Rokos and her daughter, Gladys Caroline Miller.[9] Frederick married Gladys Caroline Miller after his escape in 1939. While in New York, Frederick worked as a violist first with the New Friends of Music Orchestra and then with the Kolisch Quartet.[5][6] He and his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in the early 1940s. Frederick was a member of the faculty at the University of New Mexico.[7] His mother, Ernestine Fuchsgelb, was murdered in Auschwitz in 1944.[8]

New Mexico Symphony Orchestra[edit]

The orchestra, originally called the Albuquerque Civic Symphony, was organized by local members of the Rotary Club and first performed on November 30, 1932, at Carlisle Gymnasium. The founding conductor was Grace Thompson Edmister, who was one of the first women to lead a classical orchestra in the United States.

Edminster was succeeded in 1941 by William Kunkel, who was in turn replaced in 1945 by Kurt Frederick. Frederick managed to convince the world-renowned Austrian-American composer Arnold Schoenberg to commission the premiere of his work „A Survivor from Warsaw“ to the ACS.[19]

Governor's Arts Award - New Mexico Music Commission[edit]

Since 1974, the artistic and cultural contributions of 325 individuals have been recognized with the Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts.

The Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts - Dr. Kurt Frederick was a recipient for music in 1977.[20]

Opera Southwest[edit]

The Opera Southwest was founded in 1972 as Albuquerque Opera Theatre by Dr. Edward T. Peter, Maestro Kurt Frederick and others.[21]

Symphony's Conducted[edit]

Kurt Frederick was a conductor in the following Orchestras:

New Mexico Chamber Orchestra

Civic Symphony Orchestra, which became the Albuquerque Civic Symphony Orchestra

Youth Symphony Orchestra

University of New Mexico Orchestra

University of New Mexico (UNM)[edit]

Kurt Frederick was a full-time professor of music, and conductor at the University of New Mexico for 42 years.

In 1979, Kurt Frederick received an honorary degree from UNM.[22]

Remembrance[edit]

Located on the University of New Mexico Campus, College of Fine Arts, the University of New Mexico dedicated one of the main concert halls after Kurt Frederick, rightfully named 'Kurt Frederick Hall' located at (B120)[23]

Legacy[edit]

An endowed scholarship was established in memory of Kurt Frederick providing assistance to main campus undergraduate students each year.[24]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Frederick, Kurt. "Memoirs." Frederick Family Archive, 1. Retrieved 24 January 2023
  2. ^ Frederick, Kurt. "Memoirs." Frederick Family Archive, 12-13. Retrieved 24 January 2023
  3. ^ Krenek, Ernst (1951). New Mexico Quarterly. "An Exceptional Musician: Kurt Frederick." Volume 21, Issue 1, Article 5, 30. Retrieved 24 January 2023
  4. ^ Koren M Yaacov. "Cantorial World of Vienna 1860-1938." Geoffrey L. Shisler. Retrieved 24 January 2023
  5. ^ a b c Krenek, Ernst (1951). New Mexico Quarterly. "An Exceptional Musician: Kurt Frederick." Volume 21, Issue 1, Article 5, 30-31. Retrieved 24 January 2023
  6. ^ a b c Frederick, Kurt (1968, September 16) . "Oral History Interview of Kurt Frederick." Interview by David Gracy, Legacy Southwest Collection Interviews. Retrieved 24 January 2023
  7. ^ a b c Krenek, Ernst (1951). New Mexico Quarterly. "An Exceptional Musician: Kurt Frederick." Volume 21
  8. ^ a b c Anon. "Ernestine Fuchsgelb." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Retrieved 24 January 2023
  9. ^ a b Salazar, Carlos (1994, January 26). "Gladys Frederick, 85, Brought Music to Life." The Albuquerque Tribune
  10. ^ Krenek, Ernst (1951).  New Mexico Quarterly. "An Exceptional Musician: Kurt Frederick." Volume 21
  11. ^ a b Strasser, M. (1995). “A Survivor from Warsaw” as Personal Parable. Music & Letters, 76(1), 55
  12. ^ "Albuquerque Youth Symphony History". Archived from the original on November 3, 2009. Retrieved
  13. ^ A Survivor from Warsaw
  14. ^ "A survivor from Warsaw for narrator, men's choir, and orchestra : op. 46". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.
  15. ^ "Kurt Frederick oral history interview / Kurt Frederick". researchworks.oclc.org.
  16. ^ https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=3151&context=nmq
  17. ^ "DSpace". swco-ir.tdl.org. 16 September 1968.
  18. ^ "Frederick, Kurt 1968-09-16 - SWC Oral History Collection". oralhistory.swco.ttu.edu.
  19. ^ New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
  20. ^ "New Mexico Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts :: Award Winners".
  21. ^ "About Us". www.operasouthwest.org.
  22. ^ "Honorary degrees :: Office of the University Secretary". secretary.unm.edu.
  23. ^ "Kurt Fredrick Hall (B120) | College of Fine Arts | The University of New Mexico".
  24. ^ "Scholarship Office | The University of New Mexico". scholarships.unm.edu.
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