composer organist Music teacher adjudicator choir conductor
Frederic Woodman Root was born in Boston, Massachussets, the eldest of eight children of George Frederick and Mary Olive (Woodman) Root. Both parents, of English descent, came from several generations of New England ancestors, and both were musicians.
Frederic began the study of piano with his father at the age of five and at thirteen he was placed under Benjamin Colman Blodgett, one of the most distinguished organists and educators of his time. He also began the study of voice with his father, and when he subsequently went to New York for further training, he studied piano with William Mason and Robert Goldbeck, organ with James Flint and E. A. Bowman, and voice with Carlo Bassini. In 1858 his father became a partner in the music house of Root & Cady in Chicago and in 1859 removed his family there. Frederic continued his education in the new home and when still quite young he began assisting his father in various ways - conducting choruses at "conventions" and especially at the "normal institutes" so characteristic of this period.
The proficiency of the enthusiastic young musician was further recognized when, in 1864, he was made editor and arranger for the publications of Root & Cady. In 1863 Root became organist of the Third Presbyterian Church of Chicago and in 1865 of the Swedenborgian Church, where (except for two years in Europe) he remained until 1884. In 1869-70 he was abroad for further study and travel, devoting much of his time to the study of voice under Vannuccini in Florence, Italy. Hitherto his main interest was centered on instrumental music (piano and organ), but during his sojourn abroad he turned his attention to voice production, in which field he later became a most successful teacher and brought out many important singers. When the firm of Root & Cady went out of existence at the time of the Chicago fire, he devoted considerable time to composition and to writing for musical magazines, especially the Song Messenger, which he edited for many years. He was in great demand as a lecturer and became one of the pioneers in shaping the musical taste of the early women's clubs. From 1884 to 1886 he was choral director of the First Baptist Church, but he returned to the Swedenborgian church as organist until 1890. He was the first director of the Mendelssohn Club (1879 - 85) and in 1885 served as music critic of the Chicago Herald. In 1889 he organized and conducted a festival chorus of four hundred voices in a series of concerts given by Gilmore's Band and in 1893, during the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, he directed the chorus in connection with the Folklore Congress. In 1895 he resumed his organ work and was successively organist at the Auditorium and at the First Church of Christ, Scientist. He was a member and president (1904 - 05) of the Chicago Literary Club, a charter member of the Cliff Dwellers, and member of other social organizations. Among his most important books are The Technic and Art of Singing, The Polychrome Lessons in Voice Culture, Introductory Lessons in Voice-Culture, and numerous collections of exercises, studies, and songs.
In 1863 Root became organist of the Third Presbyterian Church of Chicago and in 1865 of the Swedenborgian Church, where (except for two years in Europe) he remained until 1884.
From 1884 to 1886 he was choral director of the First Baptist Church, but he returned to the Swedenborgian church as organist until 1890.
a member and president (1904 - 05) of the Chicago Literary Club;
a charter member of the Cliff Dwellers;
Hitherto his main interest was centered on instrumental music (piano and organ), but during his sojourn abroad he turned his attention to voice production, in which field he later became a most successful teacher and brought out many important singers.
His compositions are limited largely to church music and songs. Of these the best undoubtedly are the following sacred songs: "Love Never Faileth" and settings of four poems by Mary Baker Eddy - "O'er waiting harp-strings of the mind, " "Blest Christmas morn, " "Saw ye my Saviour" and "Shepherd, show me how to go. "
He had married, April 30, 1874, Fanny, daughter of Samuel Sherwood Smith of Cincinnati, who, together with a daughter and two sons, survived him.
