Laurence Wyman
Encyclopedia
Laurence Wyman is an American saxophone
teacher who served many years as the professor of saxophone at the State University of New York at Fredonia
(Fredonia, New York
).
at Maryville College
, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in music theory at the Eastman School of Music
. His saxophone teachers include Orville Kiltz, Sigurd Raschèr
and William Willett
.
in 1965. He taught all of the saxophone-related courses, directed the Fredonia Saxophone Ensemble, and taught courses in music theory
and acoustics
. He retired in 2000 and was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus.
Prior to coming to Fredonia, Dr. Wyman taught at the Community School in Tehran
, Iran
, and taught music theory at Maryville College
and the Eastman School of Music
.
, the most active professional saxophone quartet today. Other Fredonia graduates are also members of the New York Saxophone Quartet, the Aeolian Saxophone Quartet and the Empire Saxophone Quartet.
.
He has extensive experience in mouthpiece
refacing and frequently does mouthpiece modifications for students and professionals.
His work in composition has included several works for saxophone which are frequently played in the United States
and in Europe
. Several of his compositions have experimented with laser optics. His Saxophone Abstractions for Laser Beam and Prepared Audience (1969) was the first work to make use of a four color krypton
laser
in a live musical performance.
He has developed extensive audio-visual material on saxophone
pedagogy
, the history of music notation, and music form. Through funding provided by the State University of New York
, he developed one of the largest university collections of music, books, and recordings pertaining to the saxophone
, housed in SUNY Fredonia's Reed Library.
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
teacher who served many years as the professor of saxophone at the State University of New York at Fredonia
State University of New York at Fredonia
The State University of New York at Fredonia is a four-year liberal arts college located in Fredonia, New York, United States; it is a constituent college of the State University of New York...
(Fredonia, New York
Fredonia, New York
Fredonia is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 11,068 as of 2009.The Village of Fredonia is in the Town of Pomfret south of Lake Erie...
).
Education
Wyman earned a B.A. in music theoryMusic theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
at Maryville College
Maryville College
Maryville College is a private four-year liberal arts college in Maryville, Tennessee, near Knoxville. It was founded in 1819 by Presbyterian minister Isaac L. Anderson for the purpose of furthering education and enlightenment into the West. The College is one of the fifty oldest colleges in the...
, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in music theory at the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
. His saxophone teachers include Orville Kiltz, Sigurd Raschèr
Sigurd Raschèr
Sigurd Manfred Raschèr was an American saxophonist of German birth. He became one of the most important figures in the development of the 20th century repertoire for the classical saxophone.-Career in Europe:...
and William Willett
William Willett
William Willett , was an English builder and a tireless promoter of British Summer Time.-Biography:Willett was born in Farnham, Surrey, in the United Kingdom, and educated at the Philological School. After some commercial experience, he entered his father's building business, Willett Building...
.
Teaching positions
Wyman joined the faculty at the State University of New York College at FredoniaState University of New York at Fredonia
The State University of New York at Fredonia is a four-year liberal arts college located in Fredonia, New York, United States; it is a constituent college of the State University of New York...
in 1965. He taught all of the saxophone-related courses, directed the Fredonia Saxophone Ensemble, and taught courses in music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
and acoustics
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
. He retired in 2000 and was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus.
Prior to coming to Fredonia, Dr. Wyman taught at the Community School in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and taught music theory at Maryville College
Maryville College
Maryville College is a private four-year liberal arts college in Maryville, Tennessee, near Knoxville. It was founded in 1819 by Presbyterian minister Isaac L. Anderson for the purpose of furthering education and enlightenment into the West. The College is one of the fifty oldest colleges in the...
and the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
.
Students
Wyman's saxophone students number over 100 and many have gone on to professional success as performers and teachers. Some have gone on to teach saxophone in prestigious colleges and universities in the United States and Europe. His students include two members of the Raschèr Saxophone QuartetRaschèr Saxophone Quartet
The Raschèr Saxophone Quartet is a professional ensemble of four saxophonists which performs classical and modern music.Like most saxophone quartets, the RSQ features one player on each of the four most common sizes of saxophone: soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone.The quartet was founded in the...
, the most active professional saxophone quartet today. Other Fredonia graduates are also members of the New York Saxophone Quartet, the Aeolian Saxophone Quartet and the Empire Saxophone Quartet.
- (need list of students here)
Performing career
Wyman has been active as a soloist, recitalist and clinician. He has performed and lectured across the United States and in countries in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and South America. He played as a member of the Chautauqua Orchestra and the Erie PhilharmonicErie Philharmonic
The Erie Philharmonic is a professional orchestra located in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Philharmonic has held their performances at the Warner Theatre on State Street in downtown Erie since 1974.-History:...
.
Publications and compositions
Dr. Wyman's interest in acoustics has led to two important books, one on the acoustics of saxophone mouthpiece design and the other on the subject of difference-tones and their use in tuning harmonic intervals. He has lectured at major universities on these subjects.He has extensive experience in mouthpiece
Mouthpiece (woodwind)
The mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument is that part of the instrument which is placed partly in the player's mouth. Single-reed instruments, capped double-reed instruments, and fipple flutes have mouthpieces while exposed double-reed instruments and open flutes do not.-Single-reed instruments:On...
refacing and frequently does mouthpiece modifications for students and professionals.
His work in composition has included several works for saxophone which are frequently played in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Several of his compositions have experimented with laser optics. His Saxophone Abstractions for Laser Beam and Prepared Audience (1969) was the first work to make use of a four color krypton
Krypton
Krypton is a chemical element with the symbol Kr and atomic number 36. It is a member of Group 18 and Period 4 elements. A colorless, odorless, tasteless noble gas, krypton occurs in trace amounts in the atmosphere, is isolated by fractionally distilling liquified air, and is often used with other...
laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
in a live musical performance.
He has developed extensive audio-visual material on saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
pedagogy
Pedagogy
Pedagogy is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction....
, the history of music notation, and music form. Through funding provided by the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
, he developed one of the largest university collections of music, books, and recordings pertaining to the saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, housed in SUNY Fredonia's Reed Library.
List of publications
- AN ACOUSTICAL STUDY OF ALTO SAXOPHONE MOUTHPIECE CHAMBER DESIGN (Ph.D. Dissertation, Eastman School of MusicEastman School of MusicThe Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
, June 1972). University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. - TARTINI-TONES: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE AURAL PERCEPTION OF DIFFERENCE-TONES AND A METHOD OF USING THEM AS AN AID IN TUNING HARMONIC INTERVALS (1991)
- TWENTY-FOUR NEMESI (2000) Advanced exercises for the saxophonist.
List of compositions
- DELTANGI for Alto SaxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
and Four CelliCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
(1965) - DJIWA for Solo (any) Saxophone (1971)
- RAINFALL for Tenor SaxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
and PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
(1972) - MINIATURE SUITE for Alto Saxophone and Piano (1995)
- SUNDANCE FOR THE KID for Solo Alto Saxophone (1998)
- RAINFALL for Alto Saxophone and Piano (1998 arrangement of the original piece for tenor)