B.A. in History/Philosophy/Liturgy, Fordham University, Bronx, New York (1965)
B.A. in Music, Queens College, Flushing, New York (1969)

Principal teachers:
Hugo Weisgall (composition)
MacNeil Robinson (composition and organ)
Allan Van Zoren (organ)
Mason Martens (plainsong)

The Church of Our Lady of Peace (Roman Catholic), Brooklyn, New York (1965-1973)
The Church of the Covenant (Presbyterian), New York, New York (1978-1981)
The Church of the Holy Apostles (Episcopal), New York, New York (1981-1992)

Frank Santo held positions at the Church of Our Lady of Peace in Brooklyn and the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Manhattan before becoming director of music in 1981 at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles in New York, a position he held until his death in 1992. He was an active member of the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, serving on its executive board at the time of his death, and was a longtime member of the Association of Anglican Musicians.

Although he was very ill with AIDS by April 1990 when the historic Casavant organ at Holy Apostles was destroyed in a fire, Santo headed the committee to find a new organ for the restored church, and was instrumental in the decision to sign a contract with Rosales Organ Builders for a 32-stop mechanical-action organ.

He composed numerous sacred choral pieces, including many short antiphons, hymn descants and other liturgical items, anthems and motets. David Hurd, the present Music Director at Holy Apostles, has written that "his music is modern and demanding, both of singers and hearers, and gives great presence to the liturgy." Among Santo's extended works are a Passion According to St. John and the Three Tenebrae Responsoria, written in 1985 and dedicated "to all those who have died of AIDS." That year marked the beginning of a tradition he established at Holy Apostles of holding a Tenebrae service each year on Holy Wednesday, in memory of AIDS victims. The 1992 Tenebrae service at the Church of the Holy Apostles was dedicated to Santo's memory.

The following remarks are drawn from a sermon given by the Reverend William A. Greenlaw, Rector of Holy Apostles, at a memorial service for Santo held in February 1992 at St. Luke in the Fields in New York:

"Frank was expansive and dramatic, full of feeling, a liturgical musician who wanted both the liturgy and the music to communicate real life in its joy and in its glory and in its pathos. Frank wanted the church to be "out" in its life and in its expression of who and what it was...

"Frank knew and understood and had strong opinions about the liturgy...Liturgy planning sessions the clergy had with Frank could go on for hour after treasurable hour. We once went to the wee hours of the morning discussing the appropriate liturgical color for Maundy Thursday, going through all the history and precedents, all the possible shades of meaning present in red or white or purple. Finally, and most importantly, we discussed how the color we chose would help convey the meaning of the day that we wanted to express through all the music and liturgy, for all of these things were interrelated. Accessibility and meaning were always far more determinative for us than the observation, ‘that's the way it's always been done.'...

"Frank appreciated and used extensively the English cathedral tradition, but he drew on so much else. He used music from the black tradition. He had a way with spirituals that left many in tears. He loved romantics such as Bruckner as well as the masters of the Italian and English renaissance...Frank loved the French romantic organ tradition, whose lush sounds spoke of the riches of sacramental grace....

"The quintessential Santonian amalgamation came together in Frank's improvisations between the penultimate and last verses of our offertory hymn, as the gifts were offered and the table set...On a major day, or in a festive season, the penultimate verse of the offertory hymn would end, and the next thing you heard was an ominous prefatory rumble off in the distance, and then, while smoke filled the church, the organ would be in a match with the thurible to see who could pour it on the more. Finally, in the most amazing variation on the hymn tune, the whole place would be shaking and thundering, something you could feel as well as hear, especially once we had our 32 foot resultant....

"In the last conversation I had with Frank, about a week before he died, he told me he was concerned that we get moving in the parish and beyond to raise the large amount of money needed for [the new] organ...the instrument which, along with the musical tradition built by him, will be Frank's enduring legacy."

Frank Santo died of AIDS in New York at the age of 48 on January 26, 1992.

—Nurit Tilles

WORKS:

EXTENDED WORKS

Mass in Honor of Our Lady of Peace
for: SATB
date: ?
note: listed in undated resume; whereabouts of ms. unknown.

St. John Passion
for: SAB chorus and soloists
date: ?
note: listed in undated resume; whereabouts of ms. unknown

SERVICE MUSIC

Alleluia
for: cantor and 4-part choir
date: 1983 (?) (not clear on score)
note: "To Randy Frew"

Alleluia
for: cantor and 4-part choir
date: 1985
note: "To Bill Greenlaw on his institution as the Thirteenth Rector of the Church of the Holy Apostles"

Alleluia for All Saints
for: cantor and 4-part choir
date: 1984

Alleluia for Xmas
for: cantor and 4-part choir
date: 1984
note: "To Jane Greenlaw"

Alleluia for Ascension: Dominus in Sina VIII
for: voice (alto?) a cappella
date: ?

Alleluia for Transfiguration
for: cantor and 4-part choir
date: ?

Christmas Alleluia
for: cantor and SATB
date: 1982
note: "To Kathy Acks"

Commissioning: A Service Book
Commissioning for Catechists ("To Anne and Anne and Anne and all those involved in Christian Ed")
Commissioning Lectors
Commissioning Licensed Lay Readers
Commissioning Various Ministries

Communions for Lent & Palm Sunday
for: cantor and choir
date: ?
text: Psalms

Easter Sequence
for: bass, alto, 2-part choir, trumpets, organ
date: 1980

Eucharist in Honor of St. Martin de Porres
for: cantor and organ
date: ?

Four Amens and an Introduction
for: SAB
date: 1979
note: "For Covenant Presbyterian Church"

Integrity: 10th Anniversary Mass Communion
for: solo voice (?)
date: 1985
note: "To L. Paul Woodrum"

Introit for the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul
for: cantor and 4-part choir
date: 1987

Introit: Pentecost (Spiritus Domini)
for: solo voice (?)
date: 1985

Introit for Trinity Sunday
for: unison voices (?)
date: 1985
note: "To J.R."

An Introit to Walk By (Baptism of Our Lord)
for: 4-part choir
date: 1985

From Introits & Amens
for: SATB
date: 1974
text: by the composer

Mantra for Epiphany
for: 4-part choir?
date: 1985

Mass in Honor of St. Martin de Porres
for: unison voices and organ?
date: 1983
note: "To Tom Martin." Copyright 1983 Orsini Productions.
[note: Folder contains only Gloria and Sanctus. Is this an unfinished work, or are sections of ms. missing?]

Miserere Mei: Anglican Chant & Faux Bourdon on [illegible] VII
for: 4-part choir
date: 1989
text: Psalm 51

Missa Simplex
for: ?
date: ?
note: listed in undated resume; whereabouts of ms. unknown

Parish Canvassers
for: 4-part choir
date: 1989

S143 (six-bar Amen)
for: 4-part choir
date: 1991
note: "To Mason"

Servers
for: 4-part choir
date: 1985

Servers (Sacristans)
for: 4-part choir
date: 1991

Thurible Dedication
for: 4-part choir
date: 1986
note: "To Fr. Edmond Hawley"

Three Tenebrae Responsoria
Responsory I: On the Mount of Olives
Responsory II: Darkness Covered the Whole Earth
Responsory III: I Was Like a Trusting Lamb
for: SATB
date: 1985
note: "These Responsoria are dedicated to all who have died from AIDS, including: Paul Albano, Peter Beals, Roy Birch, Dwight Byrd, Michael Costa, Bill Hudson, Klaus Schlesiger ... and especially Philip Mendez."
Edited by David Hurd (2002).
performed: original (1985) version regularly sung at Church of Holy Apostles at Tenebrae service during Holy Week, 1985-2001; edited (2002) version performed at Tenebrae, 2002-2003.

Two Unison Responses for 4th Ave. Presbyterian Church
for: unison voices and organ?
date: 1976

Ushers
for: 4-part choir
date: 1985

Vestment Antiphons
     Altar Cloths and Hangings
     Vestments
     Offertory Plates
for: 4-part choir
date: 198? [xerox cut off]
note: "To Debra Givens for the time and talent given to Holy Apostles"

Vestry
for: 4-part choir
date: ?

Vocalese on Stille Nacht W.B. #567 (verse 3)
for: soprano?
date: 1980

ANTHEMS

At the Procession: A Faux-Bourdon for Holy Apostles
for: ?
date: 1981

Beati Mundo Corde
for: 4-part choir (?)
date: 1984
note: "To John Young." Edited by Donald Joyce.

A Benediction (Lutkin-Santo)
for: treble voices (SA)
date: 1981
note: "To the choir ladies at the Church of the Covenant." Appears to be identical to Blessed are the Singlehearted.

Blessed are the Singlehearted
(see A Benediction, above)

Blest are the Single Hearted
for: SATB
date: ?
note: listed in undated resume; whereabouts of ms. unknown

Burial of the Dead II, Anthem II
for: 4-part choir
date: 1983, revised 1989
note: "For Bob Cromwell"

The Children of the Hebrews
for: tenor and SATB
date: Palm Sunday 1979, revised 1981
note: "For the Church of the Covenant"

Christ Our Passover (Communion Antiphon)
for: 4-part choir
date: 1976
note: "For St. Pauls"

Come, Thou Font of Every Blessing
for: solo voice
date: ?
note: listed in undated resume; whereabouts of ms. unknown

Create In Me A Clean Heart
for: SATB
date: 1973, revised 1980
text: Psalm 51: 10-12
note: "To Hugo Weisgall"

Crux Fidelis
for: 3-part choir

Et Valde Mane (melody and descant)
for: SA choir?
date: ?
note: original composition? Santo's name is on folder but not on ms.

Festive Arrangement of R. Powell
for: 3-part choir and organ
date: Easter 1993

Gradual Psalm 42
for: treble voices (SA?)
date: 1984
note: "For Kathy & David on their ordination to the Priesthood"

Hosanna Filo David (Hosanna to the Son of David)
for: SATB
date: 1989
text: in English
note: "To Joanna D." Edited by David Hurd (2002).

In Splendoribus
for: cantor and SATB
date: 1975
text: in Latin

In the Year of King Uzziah's Death
for: solo voice
date: ?
note: listed in undated resume; whereabouts of ms. unknown

Iste Confessor (arrangement)
for: "arranged for the choir of Holy Apostles"
date: 1981
note: "1940 Hymnal No. 228 v 1, 2, 4, 5." Original version (ms. not found) is for 2-part chorus.

Love Came Down At Christmas
for: choir and organ
date: 1975
text: Christina Rossetti
note: "To Sally & Niell Gardner"

O Quanta Qualia
for: unison voices?
date: 1989

Pascha Nostrum
for: SATB, 2 B-flat trumpets, 2 trombones, timpani, cymbals
date: 1987
note: "To Glenn Milhouse Jr."

Psalms and Canticles for the Great Vigil of Easter
for: unison voices?
date: 1982
text: Psalms 46:1-4, 9-12; Exodus 15:1-3, 13, 17-18; Isaiah 12:2-6; Psalms 42:1-7; Psalms 98
note: "To Fr. Frew: Holy Week 1982"

Spirit of God Descend Upon My Heart
for: solo voice
date: ?
note: listed in undated resume; whereabouts of ms. unknown

St. Paul's Admonition
for: SATB and organ ?
date: 1979
note: "To Allen Gripe"

Stetit Angelus
for: 4-part choir
date: 1985, revised 1987
note: "To Dr. Whipple & Charles Harmon"

Victime Paschali Laudes
for: 2-part chorus and brass quintet
date: 1981, revised 1982
text: Wipo ca. 1030; adapted C. Stockberger 1981
note: Original version (ms. not found) is for 2-part chorus and brass quartet.

Winchester New No. 300
date: 1984

ARRANGEMENTS

Keep In Mind (From a Melody by Lucian Diess)
for: 4-part choir
date: 1980
note: "Lucian Diess, arr. Santo"

Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing
for: ?
date: ?
note: Sicilian melody "O Sanctissima" (pub. 1794), arr. Santo

Sleep Little Jesus
for: 4-part choir
date: 1980
text: adapted by R. Jasper
note: Traditional Ukrainian melody, arr. Santo

What Wondrous Love is This! Southern Harmony 1935
for: 4-part choir?
date: 1980

HYMN TUNES AND DESCANTS

Descant on Amazing Grace
for: voices and keyboard (?)
date: 1976
text: John Newton (1779)

Descant on Bohemian Brethren No. 522
for: soprano (?)
date: 1984

Descant on Crimond
for: soprano (?)
date: ?

Descant on Gloria No. 42
date: 1983

Descant on Pentecost No. 560 (1940)
date: 1984
note: "560 (1940)" crossed and out replaced by "552 (1982)." Note on top copy: "9/27/92 words."

Descant on Richmond No. 386 (1940)
date: 1979

Descant on St. Columba No.345 (1940)
for: treble voices (SA?)
date: 1982

Descant on St. Denio
for: unison voices?
date: 1984

Descant on St. Theodulph No. 62 (1940)
date: 1984

Descant on Sine Nomine 125: 1940 Hymnal
for: SA?
date: 1979

Descant on Ton-Y-Botel No. 519 (1940)
for: SA
date: 1982? (unclear on ms.)

Descant on Tysk
for: SA
date: 1982

Descant to Vigiles et Sancti H187
for: SA
date: 1983
note: "To R. Westbrook"

Descant for: Ye Who Own the Faith of Jesus
date: 1982

New Songs: A Collection of Hymn Tunes
date: ?
note: listed in undated resume; whereabouts of ms. unknown

UNCOMPLETED WORKS:
Unknown

WRITINGS:
Unknown

DISCOGRAPHY:
No professionally released recordings

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• Obituary, The American Organist, April 1992.
• "Sermon for Frank Santo's Memorial Service" by the Reverend William A. Greenlaw, St. Luke in the Fields, New York, February 1, 1992.

PERFORMING RIGHTS AFFILIATION:
Unknown

RESOURCES:
Reverend William A. Greenlaw, Rector
Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles
296 Ninth Avenue
New York, NY 10001
(212) 807-6799 ext. 231
wagreenlaw@holyapostlesnyc.org

Dr. David Hurd, Music Director
Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles
296 Ninth Avenue
New York, NY 10001
djhurdjr@aol.com

MUSICAL EXECUTOR:
Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles
www.holyapostlesnyc.org

OTHER CONTACTS:
Unknown