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Frederick H. Clark papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 8587

Scope and Contents

This collection contains Frederick H. Clark’s music scores –digital files, photocopies, and printed volumes- from works that he both composed and arranged. These are works that he has used in his career as conductor and band director. There are also audio recordings for some of his works and performances. Included in the collection are his personal papers, which include both personal and professional correspondence as well as ephemera. Also included is a photocopy of the original biography of Frederick H. Clark given by Maureen Clark, an original copy of “The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning” arranged by J. J. Keeler, a “MIA Let’s Sing” booklet, and photocopies of a photo depicting Crawford Gates and Frederick H. Clark. Dated approximately 1945-2011.

Dates

  • approximately 1945-2014

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the Frederick H. Clark arranged scores, compositions, and other materials must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

Frederick H. Clark was a composer and conductor of music in central Utah.

Frederick H. Clark was born June 7, 1930 in Springville, Utah. His interest in music began around the age of 10, when he started studying piano with Professor Nelson at Brigham Young University. He later played in the percussion section of the local school bands and orchestra. At the age of 15, his first composition was performed by the Springville Civic Orchestra.

As a high school student, Clark attended music composition classes provided by Brigham Young University. LeRoy J. Robertson taught these first classes. Later on he would study composition with Leon Dallin, Carl Furstner, and Crawford Gates –also Brigham Young University professors. For his Master’s degree, he wrote "Symphony For Band" as a thesis. The piece has been played, mostly by college bands, all over the United States. Clark credits its success to Ralph Laycock, a band Director at BYU, who worked hard to circulate the piece.

Clark then taught music at both American Fork and Lehi High School. He later left to attend the University of Washington in Seattle, where he had been accepted to work on his PhD in Music Composition. While attending the University Dr. Welke, Band Director, performed his old composition, "Symphony For Band." Here, Clark had the opportunity to work with professors Dr. Verrell and Dr. Stanley Chapel. Shortly after arriving in Seattle he auditioned for the Seattle Symphony and spent the next several years performing under the baton of Milton Katims. Because of the Seattle World’s Fair, the symphony performed in the Old Orpheum Theatre until the new Opera House was completed.

In the following years, he found several conducting positions. He remembers fondly training the Thalia Symphony in the more modern scores, even saying it, “was a fantastic experience,” to conduct them in concert. In 1996, the Olympia Symphony of Olympia, Washington performed his composition "The Seventh Day Of Ielool.” In more recent years, he has made a number of hymn arrangements for the choir. Both he and his wife, Maureen, have conducted choirs using those new arrangements.

Extent

6 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Custodial History

Donated by Mareen Clark, wife of Frederick H. Clark, in 2014

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; Maureen Clark; September 2014

Appraisal

Prominent LDS Composers, (Section IV International Harp Collection Development Policy January 2011).

Processing Information

Processed; Audra Coleman; 2014

Title
Register of Frederick H. Clark papers
Status
In Progress
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States