David Froom

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = David Froom

| image = Dfroomface.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| associated_acts =

| label = {{hlist|Bridge|Navona|New Dimensions|Naxos|Arabesque|Capriccio|Centaur|Sonora|Crystal|Opus 3|Altissimo}}

| years_active = 1977–2022

| occupation = {{hlist|Composer|Professor of Music}}

| genre = Classical

| instrument =

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|06|19|1951|12|14}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1951|12|14}}{{Cite web|url=https://musicalics.com/en/node/98480|title=David Froom|first=Jean-Paul|last=Giraudet|date=March 7, 1999|website=musicalics.com}}

| birth_place = California, United States

| spouse = {{marriage|Eliza Garth|1986}}

| alias =

| birth_name =

| website = {{url|www.davidfroom.com}}

}}

David Froom (December 14, 1951 – June 19, 2022{{Cite web|url=https://www.brinsfieldfuneral.com/obituary/david-froom |title=Obituary for David Froom |website=Brinsfield Funeral Home}}) was an American composer and college professor. Froom taught at the University of Utah, the Peabody Institute, and the University of Maryland, College Park, and he was on the faculty at St. Mary's College of Maryland from 1989 until his death in 2022. He has received awards and honors from the Guggenheim Foundation,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gf.org/fellows/all-fellows/david-froom/|title=David Froom|website=John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation}} the American Academy of Arts and Letters, (the Charles Ives Scholarship,{{cite web|title=The Charles Ives Awards|url=http://www.artsandletters.org/awards2_popup.php?abbrev=Ives|publisher=American Academy of Arts and Letters|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131113705/http://www.artsandletters.org/awards2_popup.php?abbrev=Ives|archive-date=2016-01-31}} the Academy Award{{cite web|title=AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERS ANNOUNCES 2006 MUSIC AWARD WINNERS|url=http://www.artsandletters.org/press_releases/2006music.php|publisher=American Academy of Arts and Letters|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827000600/http://www.artsandletters.org/press_releases/2006music.php|archive-date=2014-08-27}}), the Fromm Foundation at Harvard,{{cite web|title=Past Fromm Foundation Commissions |url=http://music.fas.harvard.edu/fromm.html#past |publisher=Harvard University |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827120923/http://www.music.fas.harvard.edu/fromm.html |archive-date=2014-08-27 }} the Koussevitzky Foundation of the Library of Congress,{{cite web|title=Koussevitzky Commissions Announced|url=https://www.loc.gov/today/pr/1995/95-106.html|publisher=Library of Congress|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080711064430/http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/1995/95-106.html|archive-date=2008-07-11}} the Barlow Foundation,{{cite web |title=Past Commission Recipients |url=http://barlow.byu.edu/Pages/Commission%20Recipients.html |publisher=Barlow Foundation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128020513/http://barlow.byu.edu/Pages/Commission%20Recipients.html |archive-date=2013-01-28 }} and was a five-time recipient of an Individual Artist Award from the State of Maryland.

Early life

Froom was born in 1951 in California. After playing rock music in a band with guitarist Gary Pihl and his brother Mitchell Froom, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. As a graduate student, he studied under William Kraft, Humphrey Searle and Robert Linn (composer) at the University of Southern California, earning a Master of Music Composition degree in 1978. In 1984, he earned a D.M.A. degree in composition from Columbia University, where he studied with Mario Davidovsky and Chou Wen-chung. He had a Fulbright grant for study at Cambridge University, where he studied with Alexander Goehr,{{cite web|title=American Composers Alliance|date=January 2010 |url=http://composers.com/david-froom/|publisher=American Composers Alliance}} and fellowships to the Tanglewood Music Festival, the Wellesley Composers Conference, and MacDowell Colony.

Composer

Froom wrote music for solo instruments, chamber ensembles, and orchestra, with and without voice. His music has been performed extensively throughout the United States by major orchestras, ensembles, and soloists, including, among many others, the Louisville, Seattle, Utah, League/ISCM, and Chesapeake Symphony Orchestras, the United States Marine and Navy Bands, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the 21st Century Consort, Boston Musica Viva, the New York New Music Ensemble, the Haydn Trio Eisenstadt, and the Aurelia Saxophone Quartet. His music has been heard in performance in England, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Holland, Cyprus, China, Australia, and New Zealand.

His music has been described as “intensely dramatic yet deeply formal,”{{cite news|last1=Page|first1=Tim|title=Music/Noted in Brief; American and British New Piano Music|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/01/arts/music-noted-in-brief-american-and-british-new-piano-music.html|access-date=26 August 2014|work=New York Times|date=Oct 1, 1985}} “intellectually engaging, explosive with imagination and with a satisfying visceral power,”{{cite news|last1=Brookes|first1=Stephen|title=Haydn Trio Offers Beethoven And Mozart but No Haydn|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/18/AR2006051802222.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=6 September 2014}} balancing “diatonic pastoralism with acerbic angularity, Stravinskian rhythmic urgency with lyrical counterpoint.”{{cite news|last1=Mangan|first1=Timothy|title=Music Reviews : N.Y. Ensemble Performs Elliot Carter at LACMA|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-13-ca-1197-story.html|access-date=26 August 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 13, 1991}} Among his most critically acclaimed works are “Circling,”{{cite news|last1=Griffiths|first1=Paul|title=MUSIC REVIEW; Belated Salute to an Ensemble That Has Performed More Than 100 New Works|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/22/arts/music-review-belated-salute-ensemble-that-has-performed-more-than-100-new-works.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3As|work=New York Times|date=22 April 2002}} Sonata for Solo Violin,{{cite news|last1=Tommasini|first1=Anthony|title=Festival of Contemporary Music: Fidgety Riffs, Halting Quiet|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/30/arts/music/30mann.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3As|work=New York Times|date=30 June 2006}} 2nd Piano Trio,{{cite news|last1=Brookes|first1=Stephen|title=Haydn Trio Offers Beethoven And Mozart but No Haydn|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/18/AR2006051802222.html|newspaper=Washington Post}} and Amichai Songs.{{cite news|last1=da Fonseca-Wollheim|first1=Corinna|title=There's Pride in Embracing the Past Orchestra of the League of Composers at Miller Theater|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/19/arts/music/orchestra-of-the-league-of-composers-at-miller-theater.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3As|work=New York Times|date=18 June 2014}} Among his most frequently performed music is his saxophone music, which includes a saxophone quartet, “Flying High” for solo alto saxophone, and “Arirang Variations” for alto saxophone, bassoon, and piano. All of his works, are published by the American Composers Alliance.{{cite web|title=American Composers Alliance|date=January 2010 |url=http://composers.com/david-froom|publisher=American Composers Alliance}}

Froom's work has, since 1991, appeared regularly on the concerts of the 21st Century Consort, the new music ensemble-in-residence at the Smithsonian Institution. They have premiered and recorded many of his works.{{cite web|title=21st Century Consort|url=http://69.164.215.76/ee/index.php/archive/composers/david_froom|publisher=21st Century Consort|access-date=2014-09-05|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071210/http://69.164.215.76/ee/index.php/archive/composers/david_froom|url-status=dead}}

Personal life

Froom was married to pianist Eliza Garth. They share two daughters, Rosalie and Ana.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mtna.org/MTNA/Engage/Commissioned_Composer/DCY_Bios.aspx|title= Distinguished Composer of the Year Recipients |website=Music Teachers National Association}}

Awards

Froom's awards include the following:

Shepherd Distinguished Composer of the Year (Music Teachers National Association){{cite web|title=Distinguished Composer|url=http://www.mtna.org/programs/commissioned-composer/distinguished-composer-of-the-year-award/|publisher=Music Teachers National Association|access-date=2014-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616165312/http://www.mtna.org/programs/commissioned-composer/distinguished-composer-of-the-year-award/|archive-date=2017-06-16|url-status=dead}}
Academy Award, American Academy of Arts and Letters
Fromm Foundation at Harvard Commission
Barlow Foundation at Brigham Young University Commission
Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship
Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award (five times)
Koussevitzky Foundation Commission from the Library of Congress
National Endowment for the Arts Composition Fellowship
Kennedy Center Friedheim Awards First Prize
Composition Fellow to the Composers Conference at Wellesley
Fulbright-Hays Program Grant for study at Cambridge University (England)
Charles Ives Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters

Selected works

Groom's notable works include:

= Large ensemble works =

‘’Manna Variations’’ for wind ensemble
‘’Three Fantasy Dances: a Concerto for Wind Ensemble’’
‘’Amichai Songs’’ for baritone with orchestra
‘’Striking Silver’’ for orchestra
‘’Down to a Sunless Sea’’: a Rhapsody for string orchestra

= Concerti =

‘’Canzoni di Notte’’ for clarinet and orchestra
‘’Petali di Gelsomino’’ for flute and string orchestra
Serenade for trumpet and strings

= Chamber music =

‘’Hidden Movies’’ for fl, cl, vn, vc, pno
‘’Before the Dawn’’ for alto saxophone and piano
‘’Nightsongs’’ for clarinet and piano
‘’Turn of Events’’ for saxophone and piano
‘’Lightscapes’’ for flute and piano
‘’Circling’’ for flute and clarinet (also arranged for two saxophones)
Piano Trio No. 1
Piano Trio No. 2 ‘’Borders’’
Saxophone Quartet
‘’Arirang Variations’’ for alto saxophone, bassoon, piano
Trio for Clarinet, Cello, Piano
‘’Fantasy Dances’’ for fl, cl, perc, pno, vn, va, vc
‘’Kick Off!’’ for brass septet
Quintet for oboe, strings and piano
Chamber Concerto for fl, cl, vn, vc, pno and perc
Quartet for piano and strings
String Quartet

= Solo instrument =

‘’Variations on an Early American Hymn Tune’’ for piano solo
‘’Eine Kleine Kleinmusik’’: Violinetude (solo violin), Violetude (solo viola), Violoncelletude (solo cello), Contrabassetude (solo bass)
‘’Ribbons’’ for solo flute
‘’Shades of Red’’ for solo violin, or viola, or cello
Sonata for solo violin
‘’Flying High’’ for solo alto saxophone
Piano Suite
‘’To Dance to the Whistling Wind’’ for solo flute
Sonata for piano
‘’Elegy’’ for viola solo

= Vocal music =

‘’Amichai Songs’’ for baritone with orchestra
‘’Two Yeats Songs’’ for soprano and violin
‘’Colors passing through us’’ (poetry, Marge Piercy) for mez sop, cl, vc, pno
‘’Three Love Songs’’ (poetry, Sue Standing) for mezzo-soprano and piano
‘’Amichai Songs’’ for bar with fl, cl, hn, pno, vn, va, vc
‘’Emerson Songs’’ for sop with fl, ob, cl, bn, pno, vn, va, vc

= Choral =

‘’Warm are the still and lucky miles’’ for SATB (poem, Auden)

= Recordings =

Quartet for Piano and Strings, Down to a Sunless Sea, Piano Sonata (Centaur Records CRC 2103).{{cite web|title=CD Universe|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1472880/a/morris+rosenzweig%3A+diptych%3B+david+froom%3A+piano+quartet%3B+down+to+a+sunless+sea%3B+piano+sonata.htm|publisher=CD Universe}}
Serenade for trumpet and strings, Gerard Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony with Jeff Silberschlag, trumpet (Naxos 8.559719).{{cite web|title=Naxos Music|url=http://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviewslist.asp?catalogueid=8.559719&languageid=EN|publisher=Naxos Classical Music}}
Chamber Concerto (New York New Music Ensemble), String Quartet (Ciompi String Quartet), Quintet for Oboe, Strings and Piano (Twentieth Century Consort), Piano Suite (Eliza Garth). To Dance to the Whistling Wind (Jayn Rosenfeld) (Arabesque Recordings Z6710){{cite web|title=AllMusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/to-dance-to-the-whistling-wind-mr0002062554|publisher=AllMusic}}
“Kick Off!” for brass septet (Sonora Recordings SO22591CD){{cite web|title=Sonora Productions|url=http://www.sonoraproductions.com/s022591.html|publisher=Sonora Productions}}
Piano Trio, Opus 3 Trio (Opus 3 Recordings){{cite book|title=OCLC WorldCat|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/52533286|publisher=OCLC WorldCat|oclc=52533286}}
Saxophone Quartet, West Point Saxophone Quartet (Altissimo Recordings 75442259912){{cite web|title=Naxos Music|url=http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=75442259912|publisher=Naxos Music}}
Saxophone Quartet, Aurelia Quartet (New Dynamic Records 700261228655){{cite web|title=CD Baby|url=http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/newdynamic2|publisher=CD Baby}}
Saxophone Quartet, Quatour Nota Bene (Fidelio Recordings AD001){{cite web|title=Archambault|url=http://www.archambault.ca/nota-bene-prelude-et-groove-ACH002271775-en-pr|publisher=Archambault}}
Piano Trio #2: “Grenzen,” Haydn Trio Eisenstadt (Capriccio Records CAP71095){{cite web|title=AllMusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/ingeborg-bachmann-writing-against-war-bachmann-to-musichybrid-sacd-mr0002171546/credits|publisher=AllMusic}}
Arirang Variations, Kenneth Tse, Benjamin Coehlo, Alan Huckleberry (Crystal Records CD358){{cite web|title=Crystal Records|url=http://www.crystalrecords.com/saxophone.html#CD358|publisher=Crystal Records}}
Amichai Songs, Fantasy Dances, Circling, Emerson Songs, Clarinet Trio, 21st Century Consort (Bridge Records 9240){{cite web|title=Music of David Froom|url=http://www.bridgerecords.com/products/music-of-david-froom/|publisher=Bridge Records|access-date=2014-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905192521/http://www.bridgerecords.com/products/music-of-david-froom/|archive-date=2014-09-05|url-status=dead}}
Sonata for Violin Solo, Curtis Macomber (Navonna Records NV5830){{cite web|title=Harmonious Dissonance|url=http://www.navonarecords.com/catalog/nv5830/|publisher=Navona Records}}

Bibliography

“David Froom” by Perry Goldstein, in The New Grove Dictionary of American Music, 2nd ed., 2013
“Trusting the Connections” by Alexandra Gardner, Spotlight Profile in New Music Box, April 18, 2012{{cite web|last1=Gardner|first1=Alexandra|title=Trusting the Connections|url=http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/david-froom-trusting-the-connections/|website=NewMusicBox|date=18 April 2012 |publisher=New Music USA|access-date=7 September 2014}}
“A stylistic analysis of three flute pieces by David Froom: Circling for flute and clarinet, To Dance to the Whistling Wind for solo flute, and Lightscapes for flute and piano” by Candice Behrmann, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, DMA dissertation, 2010{{cite journal|title=Digital Commons @ University of Nebraska – Lincoln|journal=Etd Collection for University of Nebraska - Lincoln|date=January 2010|pages=1–90|url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI3432045/|publisher=University of Nebraska, Lincoln|last1=Behrmann|first1=Candice}}
“Flute and Clarinet Together” by Joanna Cowan White in Flute Talk, September 2009{{cite web|title=Joanna Cowan White – Published Articles|url=https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/CCFA/CCFASchoolofMusic/CCFASOMStudios/Pages/Flute_Professor.aspx|publisher=Central Michigan University}}
“David Froom: MTNA/Shepherd Distinguished Composer 2006” by Ann Rivers Witherspoon in American Music Teacher, June–July, 2007{{cite web|title=David Froom: MTNA/Shepherd Distinguished Composer 2006.(Forum Focus: Composer Commissioning): An article from: American Music Teacher [HTML]|url=https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000SKJI50/httptodddunco-20|publisher=Amazon}}
“David Froom” by Perry Goldstein, in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd ed., 2001

Articles written

David Froom, “The Emerging Generation,” keynote article in Contemporary Music Review, Volume 10, Part 1.{{cite book|title=American Composers: The Emerging Generation|isbn = 9783718655298|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jKnUAroodQIC&q=%22David+Froom%22&pg=PP1|last1 = Froom|first1 = David|year = 1994| publisher=Psychology Press }}
David Froom, “Looking Back, Looking Forward,” and “Composed in Southern Maryland,” River Gazette, volume 10, no. 3, Fall 2010{{cite web|title=River Gazette|url=http://smcmweb.smcm.edu/rivergazette/archives/Fall2010/Composed%20in%20Southern%20Maryland.html|publisher=St. Mary’s College of Maryland|access-date=2015-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618172647/http://smcmweb.smcm.edu/rivergazette/archives/Fall2010/Composed%20in%20Southern%20Maryland.html|archive-date=2015-06-18|url-status=dead}}
David Froom, “Classical Music to Unite a Community” New Music Box, July 20, 2011{{cite web|last1=Froom|first1=David|title=Classical Music to Unite a Community|url=http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/classical-music-to-unite-a-community/|website=NewMusicBox|date=20 July 2011 |publisher=New Music USA|access-date=7 September 2014}}