Sad News- Bill Trimble
Feb/28/10 11:14 Filed in: SJSU
I
received word this week that Bill Trimble had passed
away from a heart attack on Monday, February 22, 2010
at a Seattle area hospital. He had been ill for the
past couple of years and was an amazing fighter as he
went through the trials and tribulations of his
fight. I spoke with his wife, Fabia yesterday and she
said he had kept up his membership in the Musicians
Union until last month--evidence that he was
determined to keep playing and creating.
He was a pioneer in the saxophone world. Starting the first saxophone performance major on the West coast at San Jose State University, actively getting composers to write for the instrument and influencing two generations of saxophonists through his teaching. He retired from San Jose State in 2005 to a wonderful home on the Kitsap Peninsula across the Puget Sound from Seattle. I was fortunate to get to visit him there and see how happy he was with his family and new home.
He was a huge influence on my musical life--I began studies with him when I was in high school, followed by studies at San Jose State and California State University, Hayward. We have collaborated in saxophone quartets, performed in various groups like the Cabrillo Festival and San Jose Symphony together and most recently he formed the Premiere Saxophone Quartet before he retired.
The SJSU Sax Ensemble was planning to honor Bill and his legacy at SJSU in a Sax Ensemble Alumni Concert on April 10, 2010. We will now honor Bill at this concert by memorializing his musicianship, leadership and influence as a teacher and musician at the concert. If you have any stories you would like to share or as an alumni would like to participate in the concert, please email me.
He was an important part of my life and I will miss him greatly.
R.I.P. Bill!
Bill’s bio
He was a pioneer in the saxophone world. Starting the first saxophone performance major on the West coast at San Jose State University, actively getting composers to write for the instrument and influencing two generations of saxophonists through his teaching. He retired from San Jose State in 2005 to a wonderful home on the Kitsap Peninsula across the Puget Sound from Seattle. I was fortunate to get to visit him there and see how happy he was with his family and new home.
He was a huge influence on my musical life--I began studies with him when I was in high school, followed by studies at San Jose State and California State University, Hayward. We have collaborated in saxophone quartets, performed in various groups like the Cabrillo Festival and San Jose Symphony together and most recently he formed the Premiere Saxophone Quartet before he retired.
The SJSU Sax Ensemble was planning to honor Bill and his legacy at SJSU in a Sax Ensemble Alumni Concert on April 10, 2010. We will now honor Bill at this concert by memorializing his musicianship, leadership and influence as a teacher and musician at the concert. If you have any stories you would like to share or as an alumni would like to participate in the concert, please email me.
He was an important part of my life and I will miss him greatly.
R.I.P. Bill!
Bill’s bio
Recent YouTube videos by Bill:
|
PSQ - Urban Requiem
Feb/14/10 08:58 Filed in: PSQ | Performing
The
PSQ has been rehearsing with the University of
Pacific Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Eric
Hammer perparing for our upcoming performance of
Michael Colgrass’ “Urban Requiem.”
It’s an amazing piece which is at once spell-binding, moving and fun at the same time.
"`Urban Requiem,' according to Michael Colgrass, `might be described as an urban tale, inspired by a diversity of random impressions. I thought of our urban areas, where the saxophone was spawned, and of the tragedies and struggles that occur in this environment daily. But I was also inspired by the energy and power of our cities and the humor inherent in their conflicts. I feel that the saxophone is particularly well suited to express the variety of emotions required for this idea, because it can be not only highly personal and poignant in character, but also powerful and commanding...In my mind, I heard four saxophones singing in a vocal quartet, a music that was liturgical in nature but with a bluesy overtone, a kind of "after hours" requiem.'
To find out more about the piece, check out:
http://www.michaelcolgrass.com/
Recordings:
University of Miami
Great Lakes Saxophone Quartet
It’s an amazing piece which is at once spell-binding, moving and fun at the same time.
"`Urban Requiem,' according to Michael Colgrass, `might be described as an urban tale, inspired by a diversity of random impressions. I thought of our urban areas, where the saxophone was spawned, and of the tragedies and struggles that occur in this environment daily. But I was also inspired by the energy and power of our cities and the humor inherent in their conflicts. I feel that the saxophone is particularly well suited to express the variety of emotions required for this idea, because it can be not only highly personal and poignant in character, but also powerful and commanding...In my mind, I heard four saxophones singing in a vocal quartet, a music that was liturgical in nature but with a bluesy overtone, a kind of "after hours" requiem.'
To find out more about the piece, check out:
http://www.michaelcolgrass.com/
Recordings:
University of Miami
Great Lakes Saxophone Quartet
SJSU Alumni Sax Ensemble Concert
Feb/14/10 08:44 Filed in: SJSU
I’m in the midst of setting up an alumni concert for
all past San Jose State University Sax Ensemble
members. It will be April
10th
at
7:30pm. We want to celebrate the great players and
teachers who have gone through the SJSU saxophone
program over the last 40 years.
Bill Trimble retired 5 years ago and I was fortunate to take over the program. We have been growing, with some excellent players, a large saxophone ensemble, and a very positive atmosphere that reminds me of my own days at SJSU in the 1970’s.
The plan is to rehearse the day of the program, as well as having additional rehearsals on March 23 and April 6 from 7-9pm. There will be opportunities for alumni to participate as a player, composer, arranger, conductor or just to attend the concert and hang out afterward. I plan to include pieces from the past that many alumni have arranged or composed, including the infamous “Shot Down of La Grange” by Brad Barnett (complete with special effects,) and many others.
In addition, we will honor professor emeritus Bill Trimble with a special tribute. I invited Bill to come, but due to health issues, he will be unable to attend. I hope to celebrate his “presence” through some special presentation at the concert.
I have set up a Facebook Event to help communication in advance of the concert. In addition, if you have photos or stories from your time at SJSU that we could share, post them on Facebook.
Please send me an email at dale.wolford-at- sjsu.edu (replace the -at- with the @ symbol!) if you’ll be attending and we can start communicating with you about the event. Let me know if you want to play or do other things at the concert. In addition, please pass the word to anyone that is an alumni and might want to attend.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Bill Trimble retired 5 years ago and I was fortunate to take over the program. We have been growing, with some excellent players, a large saxophone ensemble, and a very positive atmosphere that reminds me of my own days at SJSU in the 1970’s.
The plan is to rehearse the day of the program, as well as having additional rehearsals on March 23 and April 6 from 7-9pm. There will be opportunities for alumni to participate as a player, composer, arranger, conductor or just to attend the concert and hang out afterward. I plan to include pieces from the past that many alumni have arranged or composed, including the infamous “Shot Down of La Grange” by Brad Barnett (complete with special effects,) and many others.
In addition, we will honor professor emeritus Bill Trimble with a special tribute. I invited Bill to come, but due to health issues, he will be unable to attend. I hope to celebrate his “presence” through some special presentation at the concert.
I have set up a Facebook Event to help communication in advance of the concert. In addition, if you have photos or stories from your time at SJSU that we could share, post them on Facebook.
Please send me an email at dale.wolford-at- sjsu.edu (replace the -at- with the @ symbol!) if you’ll be attending and we can start communicating with you about the event. Let me know if you want to play or do other things at the concert. In addition, please pass the word to anyone that is an alumni and might want to attend.
I look forward to hearing from you!