FREDERICK STOCKEN
Composer and Organist
Frederick Stocken’s Lament for Bosnia first brought his music to a wide audience. The CD of this piece for string orchestra topped the Tower Records classical charts for several weeks in 1993. Large-scale commissions include his First Symphony commissioned by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and premiered in the Royal Albert Hall, and a ballet, Alice, commissioned for the State Theatre in Giessen, Germany. Other major works include his Second Symphony and a Violin Concerto, both performed at St John’s Smith Square. Choral commissions include Missa Pacis, a mass for choir and orchestra, for the Brompton Oratory, London. Frederick has received commissions for many smaller pieces, such as Gaudete in Domino for the handbell choir of Rikkyo University, Tokyo, in 2019. He is particularly active as a composer of organ and sacred choral music.
Frederick Stocken is Organist of St George's Metropolitan Cathedral in London, a teacher for the Royal College of Organists and the Royal Academy of Music, and the author of several music tutors and works of musicology.
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"It is refreshing to find a composer who is producing music which is clear, profound, free-flowing and superbly composed." Malcolm Williamson, then Master of the Queen's Music, talking about Frederick Stocken in The Sunday Telegraph
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LATEST WORKS BY FREDERICK STOCKEN
SOUTHERN CATHEDRALS FESTIVAL COMMISSION 2019
The Chichester Service
Frederick Stocken's Chichester Service was commissioned by the Southern Cathedrals Festival 2019. The first performance was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 by the combined choirs of Chichester, Salisbury and Winchester Cathedrals, conducted by Charles Harrison, with Tim Ravalde, organ. In 2020 it was also sung by the choir of St Michael's Cornhill.
FREDERICK PLAYS HIS LATEST ORGAN WORK IN THE ORGAN RECITAL SERIES AT ST JOHN'S, SMITH SQUARE, LONDON
Mysterium Fidei
Mysterium Fidei (The Mystery of Faith) for organ, was played by Frederick in a recital at St John’s, Smith Square in February 2020. The subtitle of the work is ‘A journey towards faith’, and the music depicts a pilgrimage from doubt towards belief. The six sections are called: Restless Spirit; Intimations; Searching; Prayer; Awakening; Faith. The premiere was given by Frederick last year at Rikkyo University in Tokyo, and the UK premiere at Chichester Cathedral last November was also played by Frederick. In October 2020 Frederick also played Mysterium Fidei in an online recital at St Michael's Cornhill, which is still on Youtube.
NEW ANTHEM BY
FREDERCK STOCKEN WRITTEN FOR
ST GILES CRIPPLEGATE
The Transfiguration
The Transfiguration, written for the choir of St Giles Cripplegate, was premiered in February 2020. The choir was directed by Anne Marsden Thomas, with Jack Gonzalez-Harding, organ. The music sets the account of this awe-inspiring event by St Matthew.
NEW SETTING OF THE MASS FOR
ST GEORGE'S CATHEDRAL
The Newman Mass
The Newman Mass is a new setting of the Mass written to be sung by both the choir and congregation of St George’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Southwark. Its title commemorates the recent canonization of John Henry Newman in 2019. The music will be introduced to the congregation as soon as possible after the pandemic.
NEW ORGAN TUTOR BY
FREDERICK STOCKEN AND
ANNE MARSDEN THOMAS
Following the success of the
Graded Keyboard Musicianship books...
The New Oxford Organ Method was published in 2020 and is already on its third impression. In Choir & Organ (Jan/Feb 2021) Stephen Farr wrote 'Teachers and performers at every level of attainment should acquire this book without hesitation; it will prove an invaluable and thought-provoking resource. Highly recommended.' Frederick's Rising Passacaglia is one of 20 pieces around which the tutor is based. Frederick has also written 60 bespoke studies, which each tackle a specific organ technique.