Erickson, Frank A Guide to the Frank Erickson Papers DCR MG 8

A Guide to the Frank Erickson Papers DCR MG 8


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ODU Diehn Composers Room Collection

189 Diehn Fine & Performing Arts Center
1339 49th St.
Norfolk, VA 23529
Telephone: 757-683-5350
libspecialcollections@odu.edu
URL: https://www.odu.edu/library/special-collections

Jessica Mirasol

Repository
ODU Diehn Composers Room Collection
Identification
DCR MG 8
Title
Frank Erickson Papers 1940-1996, undated Date acquired: 00/00/2000
URL:
https://archivesguides.lib.odu.edu/repositories/2/resources/160
Quantity
24.40 Linear Feet
Creator
Erickson, Frank
Language
English .

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Frank Erickson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Source of Acquisition

Mary Smith Erickson, Wife of Frank Erickson

Method of Acquisition

Donation

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Jessica Mirasol, Librarian Archivist for Music Collections, and Brian Rinaldo in 2013.


Biographical or Historical Information

Frank William Erickson, the son of Frank O. and Myrtle (Leck) Erickson, was born in Spokane, Washington on September 1, 1923. He began studying piano at the age of eight, trumpet at ten, and wrote his first band composition when he was in high school. He received his Mus.B. in 1950 and his Mus.M. in 1951, both from the University of Southern California. Before entering college he studied privately with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, and with Halsey Stevens and Clarence Sawhill after enrolling at USC

Erickson was a composer, conductor, arranger, and author of books on band method. He also lectured at the University of California at Los Angeles (1958) and was professor of music at San Jose State University. For a number of years he worked for a music publishing company, and later began his own company. He served with the United States Army Air Force from 1942-1946, and wrote arrangements for army bands during that time. After the war ended he worked in Los Angeles as a trumpet player and jazz arranger. He was a life member of the National Band Association, elected to the Academy of Wind and Percussion Arts in 1986, and a member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lamda, Phi Beta Mu, and the American Bandmasters Association.

In 1953 he married Mary Theresa McGrorty. They had three sons, William, Richard, and Christian. Erickson's wife died in 1975, and on August 15, 1981 he married Mary Ann Smith. He died October 21, 1996.

Frank Erickson is listed in several biographical sources including, for example, The New Grove Dictionary of American Music, Who Was Who in America, and International Who's Who in Music. He is also the subject of a thesis, written by Pamela Joy Arwood in 1990 at Central Missouri State University, entitled Frank Erickson and His Music: A Biography, Analysis of Selected Compositions, and Catalogue. Biographical information above was taken from these sources.

Note written by Special Collections Staff

Scope and Contents

The Frank Erickson Papers includes manuscript scores of both marching and concert band pieces, as well as his musical arrangements (mainly of traditional songs and hymns). Many of the materials that he used as a teacher of band music are also available. Newspaper articles and much of his professional and personal correspondence are also part of this collection.

Arrangement Note

This collection is arranged into five series: Series I: Scores and Parts; Series II: Teaching Aids; Series III: Programs, Publicity, Reviews, Etc.; Series IV: Correspondence; Series V: Personal Interests.

Subjects and Indexing Terms


Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

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Significant Places Associated With the Collection

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Container List

Series I
Series I: Scores and Parts
undated
Scope and Contents

Frank Erickson was a prolific composer for band. This series contains his published works, both commercially available and out-of-print materials. Scores are arranged alphabetically.

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Series II
Series II: Teaching Aids
1955-1995, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains band method books that Mr. Erickson wrote, editted, and contributed to. Also included are material for specific specific insturments, composistion, arrangement, and conducting including articles ,written and saved, as well as notes written by Mr. Erickson on the subject.

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Series III
Series III: Program, Publicity, Reviews, Etc
1940-1996, undated
Scope and Contents

Programs, reviews, and publicity from Erickson's performances as a musician, conductor, and composer. Ranges from his time in high school, a student at University of Southern California, and his career as a composer/musician.

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Series IV
Series IV: Correspondence
1958-1998, undated
Scope and Contents

Letters to and from Frank Erickson with the majority occuring in the period of 1980-1996. Letters address performances by outside band directors, requests for and clarifications regarding how to perform pieces by Mr. Erickson, issues regarding publication of Mr. Erickson's works, letters from students who performed pieces by Mr. Erickson, and correspondence regarding the publication of a series of teaching modules for bands by Mr. Erickson.

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Series V
Series V: Personal Interests
undated
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