Edwin R. Fissinger was born June 15, 1920 and attended school at Rockford, Illinois.  He earned an undergraduate degree at Marquette University, Milwaukee.  He served during World War II in the U.S. Air Force.  He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.  From 1957 until coming to North Dakota State University in 1967 he was chairman of the music department and director of the choir and madrigal singers at the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle.  At North Dakota State University Dr. Fissinger was chairman of the music department and served as the director of the choir.  He was instrumental in 1970 in having the music department earn acceditation from the National Association of Schools of Music.  Fissinger was nationally recognized as a composer and editor of choral music, with numerous works published.  He was editor for a number of years, beginning in 1967, of the Parkway Choral Series of contemporary choral music for World Library Publications.  A number of his choral works have been published by this company.  From 1958 to 1962 he was consulting editor for Summry-Birchard Publishing Co.  In 1973, 1977 and 1983 the NDSU Concert Choir, under his direction, was selected to perform at the opening session of the National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association.  In 1977 Dr. Fissinger received the NDSU Blue Key Doctor of Service award.  He retired in 1985 and continued composing until his death in Fargo on October 16, 1990.

The Edwin Fissinger papers document his prolific career as a composer primarily through an extensive collection of his original arrangements.  The Publications Series includes several books that include compositions by Fissinger or items he edited.  Christ is Risen includes his "Alleluia! The Strife is O'er."  This work is composed of nine organ pieces based on Easter hymn tunes and published in 1965.  One Faith in Song includes both the two and three equal voices books.  Fissinger's contributions include, All Hail, Adored Trinity; Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty; Lord, Who at Thy first Eucharist Didst Pray; Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow, Sing of Mary; Sunday Hymn; Faith of our Fathers; and Let All MortalFlesh Keep Silence.  The Compositions Series constitutes the great majority of the collection and has been organized alphabetically by title.  With the preponderance of music titles, italics have not been used.  If provided, dates and other information are given with the entry on the finding aid.
 

Literary, Music and Theater