F. R. C. Clarke

Who was F. R. C. Clarke?

Frederick Robert Charles Clarke, known largely by his initials F. R. C. Clarke was a Canadian musician and composer who spent most of his musical career in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Clarke was born in Vancouver in 1931. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in 1951, and his Doctor of Music degree in 1954, both from the University of Toronto. Among his teachers were George Laughlin, Eric Rollinson, Kenneth Ross, Healey Willan, and S. Drummond Wolff. He served as organist-choirmaster for several Toronto-area churches during his time in the city. From 1957–58, he conducted the St. Catharines Civic Orchestra, before moving to Kingston and taking up the role of organist-choirmaster at Sydenham Street United Church, a role he served from 1958 until his retirement, after which he served as Organist Emeritus. He began teaching music at Queen's University in 1964, and was head of the Music Department from 1981–1991.

Clarke's better-known compositions include "Bel and the Dragon", "Sing a New Song to the Lord", "Psalm 145", which won the 1967 CBC prize for choral music, "Festival Te Deum", and "Reginae". Clarke also chaired the committee that produced The Hymn Book shared by the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada, contributing several hymn tunes and arrangements. In 1982, Clarke published a biography of Canadian composer Healey Willan.