Stuart Dempster
Encyclopedia
Stuart Dempster is a trombonist, didjeridu player, improvisor, and composer
.
, and from 1962 to 1966 was first trombonist in the Oakland Symphony Orchestra. In 1967–68 he was a Creative Associate at the State University of New York at Buffalo under Lukas Foss
. The following year he was appointed assistant professor at the University of Washington
, in Seattle, where he was promoted to full professor in 1985. In 1971–72 he was a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study at the University of Illinois, and in 1973 he was a senior Fulbright scholar to Australia (Tarr 2001). In 1979 the University of California Press published his book, The Modern Trombone: A Definition of Its Idioms. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship award in 1981.
He has commissioned and performed works by Luciano Berio
, Donald Erb
, Robert Erickson
, Andrew Imbrie
, Ernst Krenek
, and Robert Suderburg
. He has collaborated with former classmate Pauline Oliveros
and Panaiotis
including co-founding the Deep Listening Band
. He commissioned Theater Piece for Trombone Player (1966) from Oliveros and choreographer Elizabeth Harris.
Dempster practices yoga and breath control including circular breathing. He is credited with introducing the didjeridu to North America.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Biography
After Dempster completed his studies at San Francisco State College, he was appointed assistant professor at the California State College at Hayward, and instructor at the San Francisco Conservatory (1960–66). During this period he was also a member of the Performing Group at Mills CollegeMills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
, and from 1962 to 1966 was first trombonist in the Oakland Symphony Orchestra. In 1967–68 he was a Creative Associate at the State University of New York at Buffalo under Lukas Foss
Lukas Foss
Lukas Foss was a German-born American composer, conductor, and pianist.-Music career:He was born Lukas Fuchs in Berlin, Germany in 1922. His father was the philosopher and scholar Martin Fuchs...
. The following year he was appointed assistant professor at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, in Seattle, where he was promoted to full professor in 1985. In 1971–72 he was a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study at the University of Illinois, and in 1973 he was a senior Fulbright scholar to Australia (Tarr 2001). In 1979 the University of California Press published his book, The Modern Trombone: A Definition of Its Idioms. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship award in 1981.
He has commissioned and performed works by Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian composer. He is noted for his experimental work and also for his pioneering work in electronic music.-Biography:Berio was born at Oneglia Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (October 24, 1925 – May 27, 2003) was an Italian...
, Donald Erb
Donald Erb
Donald Erb was an American composer best known for large orchestral works such as Concerto for Brass and Orchestra and Ritual Observances.-Early years:...
, Robert Erickson
Robert Erickson
Robert Erickson was an American composer.He studied with Ernst Krenek from 1936-1947: "I had already studied—and abandoned—the twelve tone system before most other Americans had taken it up." He influenced notable students Morton Subotnick, Pauline Oliveros, Terry Riley, and Paul Dresher...
, Andrew Imbrie
Andrew Imbrie
Andrew Welsh Imbrie was an American composer of contemporary classical music.-Career:Imbrie was born in New York on April 6, 1921, and began his musical training as a pianist when he was 4. In 1937, he went to Paris to study briefly with Nadia Boulanger...
, Ernst Krenek
Ernst Krenek
Ernst Krenek was an Austrian of Czech origin and, from 1945, American composer. He explored atonality and other modern styles and wrote a number of books, including Music Here and Now , a study of Johannes Ockeghem , and Horizons Circled: Reflections on my Music...
, and Robert Suderburg
Robert Suderburg
Robert Suderburg is an American composer, conductor, and pianist.-Biography:The son of a jazz trombonist , Suderburg studied composition with Paul Fetler at the University of Minnesota, where he received a BA in 1957...
. He has collaborated with former classmate Pauline Oliveros
Pauline Oliveros
Pauline Oliveros is an American accordionist and composer who is a central figure in the development of post-war electronic art music....
and Panaiotis
Panaiotis
Panaiotis , aka Peter Ward, is a vocalist and composer currently living in Albuquerque. He received his Master of Music degree from New England Conservatory and a Ph.D...
including co-founding the Deep Listening Band
Deep Listening Band
The Deep Listening Band was founded in 1988 by Pauline Oliveros, , Stuart Dempster, and Panaiotis...
. He commissioned Theater Piece for Trombone Player (1966) from Oliveros and choreographer Elizabeth Harris.
Dempster practices yoga and breath control including circular breathing. He is credited with introducing the didjeridu to North America.
Discography
- In The Great Abbey of Clement VI (1987 New Albion, NA013)
- Robert Suderburg, Chamber Music III ("Night Set"), for trombone and piano (with Robert Suderburg, piano). Also with Suderburg's Chamber Music IV ("Ritual Series"), for percussion ensemble; Chamber music V ("Stevenson"), for voice, string quartet, and tape. Elizabeth Suderburg, soprano; Ciompi String Quartet; University of Michigan Percussion Ensemble, cond. Charles Owen. (1990, Delfcon Recording Society CD, DRS 2127)
- Underground Overlays from the Cistern Chapel, S. Dempster and colleagues (1995 New Albion, NA076)
- On the Boards (November 26, 2001 CD NOM11)
- Monoliths and Dimensions
- Lung Tree (2005, ReR Megacorp RDD, LC-02677), Stuart Dempster (trombone, didjeridu, garden hose, et al.), Lesli Dalaba (trumpet), Eric Glick Rieman (modified, prepared, and extended Rhodes electric piano, piano, stomp boxes, MOTM modular synthesizer)
- Echoes of Syros (2009, Full Bleed Music, FBM 003), Stuart Dempster (trombone, didjeridu, conch, garden hose, toys), Tom Heasley (tuba, electronics), Eric Glick Rieman (prepared Rhodes electric piano)
Sources
- Ross, John (2008). "Stuart Dempster". Seattle Metropolitan (December): 66.
- Tarr, Edward H. (2001). "Dempster, Stuart (Ross)". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley SadieStanley SadieStanley Sadie CBE was a leading British musicologist, music critic, and editor. He was editor of the sixth edition of the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians , which was published as the first edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.Sadie was educated at St Paul's School,...
and John TyrrellJohn Tyrrell (professor of music)John Tyrrell was born in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia in 1942. He studied at the universities of Cape Town, Oxford and Brno. In 2000 he was appointed Research Professor at Cardiff University....
. London: Macmillan Publishers. - Von Gunden, Heidi (1983). The Music of Pauline Oliveros. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-1600-8.
External links
- Stuart Dempster’s Faculty Page
- New Albion Artist: Stuart Dempster
- Frankfurt Ballet Composers: Stuart Dempster scroll to bottom
- Anomalous Records:
Listening
- Epitonic: Stuart Dempster featuring “Morning Light” and “Didjerilayover” from Underground Overlays from the Cistern Chapel.
- Art of the States: Stuart Dempster General Speech (1969) by Robert Erickson