Frahm, Fredrick

Frederick Frahm (b. Hemet, circa 1964), a graduate (BM & MM) of Pacific Lutheran University, studied with David Dahl, Gregory Peterson, and Randall McCarty. He studied composition with Gregory Youtz, Gary Smart, Walter Pelz, and Roger Briggs. He is currently Director of Music at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Bellingham, WA. Mr. Frahm has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Concordia University (River Forest, IL) where he taught modal counterpoint, music theory and composition, and orchestration. In addition to his duties as a professional church musician and a private studio teacher, he contributes regularly to the Bellingham Herald as a classical music critic. A prize winning and critically acclaimed composer, his compositions have enjoyed performances in the US, Europe, and South Africa. Recent large scale compositions include War Cantata (a secular cantata based on texts of American Civil War era poets), Love songs (a song cycle in 11 parts on texts by Kenneth Rexroth), From East to West (a Christmas cantata based on texts by Luci Shaw), and Grendel's Soliloquy (for violin and orchestra). He is represented by Augsburg Publishing House, Concordia Publishing House, Live Oak House, Zimbel Press, Musica21 Publishers, Capstone Records, and Wergo Schalplatten.

Though not actively pursuing the study of an instrument, Frahm showed an early fascination with the music of the Baroque period, especially the organ works of Bach and the harpsichord works of Rameau. An equal interest in the music of the church was nurtured as the Frahm family actively participated in the worship life of a local Lutheran congregation. In the year following his fathers' death in 1980, Frahm would transform his active study of the piano in the studio of Virginia Pritchard, a gifted local pianist in the lineage of Artur Schnabel. Frahm made progress quickly and there was first exposed to the music of Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, and Schumann. In addition, a substantial emphasis was placed on the contrapuntal music in J.S. Bach's "Well Tempered Clavier". Keyboard theory and improvisation skills were also a significant part of the training Frahm would receive in the Pritchard studio. Further theory instruction was offered at the high school by the band director and it was here that Frahm learned more extensively about music theory, the church modes and aural skills.

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