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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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.