Abstract
Trombonist innovator and pioneer, Stuart Dempster’s diverse career has included roles as performer, teacher, commissioner, composer and healer. Through extensive interviews with Dempster, his colleagues and former students, this document will provide biographical information and background on his career over the past five decades including his experiences with the San Francisco Tape Music Center, didjeridu, Deep Listening Band and his teachings at the University of Washington.
Additionally, six of Dempster’s commissions will be discussed providing background information on the composer, collaborative process and an examination of any salient features of the work. The six commissions that will be discussed include Luciano Berio’s Sequenza V (1966), Andrew Imbrie’s Three Sketches (1967), Ernst Krenek’s Five Pieces (1967), Robert Erickson’s General Speech (1969), Robert Suderburg’s Chamber Music III: Night Set (1972) and Donald Erb’s Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra (1976).
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