Frederic Krull

Frederic Krull (b. Indianapolis, c. 1876 - 1961) – Composer. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Frederic Krull took violin and viola lessons with Adolph Schellschmidt, a local teacher and performer. He also studied piano with Professor Weegmann. After high school graduation in 1894, Krull furthered his education in Berlin, where his training included conducting with Karl Muck. Following his return to the states in 1901, he taught in Evansville and Indianapolis before going back to Europe in 1904. In 1907, he settled permanently in Indianapolis and established himself as a well-known composer of art songs. His many settings of the poems of fellow Hoosier James Whitcomb Riley earned him much praise, namely from Riley himself. His first of at least thirty Riley settings came in 1899 with “When she comes home.” His Riley songs were so popular that Riley-Krull recitals—sometimes with guest appearances by the composer—became a common phenomenon. For the Ralph Waldo Emerson centennial of 1903, Krull composed the Boston Hymn, a cantata that prompted many performances and a complimentary letter from Ellen Emerson (the poet’s daughter). In recognition of Indiana’s 100^th birthday, Krull composed an orchestral work entitled Centennial for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1916. (The ISO also performed his Sinfonietta in C.) Another centennial that Krull composed music for was for the founding of New Harmony, Indiana—celebrated on June 13, 1914.