Eugene Rousseau (saxophonist)
Encyclopedia
Eugene Rousseau is an American classical saxophonist. He plays mainly the alto
and soprano
saxophone
s.
He studied at the Paris conservatory on a Fulbright grant with Marcel Mule
in 1962. Following his studies at the
Paris Conservatory, he earned a doctorate degree at the University of Iowa
where his principal teacher was Himie Voxman
. He was one of the organizers of the first World Saxophone Congress
in Chicago in 1969. The first such organization for an individual instrument, considered by many to be a major turning point in establishing credibility for the saxophone as a serious medium of musical expression. During 2005 Rousseau served as President of the Organizing Committee for the World Saxophone Congress XIII, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The North American Saxophone Alliance honored him with its highest award – Honorary Life Membership.
He has been a consultant for saxophone research to the Yamaha
since 1972 and has played exclusively on Yamaha saxophones since that time.
The "Eugene Rousseau saxophone mouthpiece" has been commercially available since the late 1970s.
In 1985, he recorded a video program for Yamaha Corporation
called Steps to Excellence.
Rousseau has served as President of both the North American Saxophone Alliance (1979–1980) and the Comité International du Saxophone (1982–1985).
In 1993, Eugene Rousseau was designated an honorary faculty member of the Prague Conservatory
.
In 2003, Rousseau hosted the 13th World Saxophone Congress
at the University of Minnesota
School of Music.
He taught at Indiana University
for 36 years, from 1964 to 2000. He was succeeded as professor of saxophone by Otis Murphy
, himself a former student of Rousseau. He holds the title of "Distinguished Professor of Music" there.
Rousseau now teaches at the University of Minnesota
. He joined the faculty of the School of Music there in fall 2000.
He has taught a master course at the prestigious Mozarteum in Salzburg
annually since 1991.
under the title Marcel Mule: His Life and the Saxophone He also published two method books: The E. Rousseau Beginning
Saxophone Method (English, German, Japanese)and Saxophone High Tones (English, French, German). In addition, he has had many
transcriptions published for saxophone performance.
Alto saxophone
The 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 soprano
Soprano saxophone
The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
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...
s.
He studied at the Paris conservatory on a Fulbright grant with Marcel Mule
Marcel Mule
Marcel Mule was a French classical saxophonist.Marcel Mule was known worldwide as one of the great classical saxophonists, and many pieces were written for him, premiered by him, and arranged by him. Many of these pieces have become staples in the classical saxophone repertoire...
in 1962. Following his studies at the
Paris Conservatory, he earned a doctorate degree at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
where his principal teacher was Himie Voxman
Himie Voxman
Himie Voxman , was an American musician, music pedagogue and administrator at the university level, and composer who produced volumes of compositions and pedagogical literature for wind instruments....
. He was one of the organizers of the first World Saxophone Congress
World Saxophone Congress
The World Saxophone Congress is a festival gathering approximately 1000 saxophonists and other musicians from all over the world. It is currently held every three years at a different congress centre in a different country and focuses primarily on the performance of classical saxophone music.The...
in Chicago in 1969. The first such organization for an individual instrument, considered by many to be a major turning point in establishing credibility for the saxophone as a serious medium of musical expression. During 2005 Rousseau served as President of the Organizing Committee for the World Saxophone Congress XIII, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The North American Saxophone Alliance honored him with its highest award – Honorary Life Membership.
He has been a consultant for saxophone research to the Yamaha
Yamaha (manufacturer)
is a multinational corporation and conglomerate based in Japan with a wide range of products and services, predominantly musical instruments, electronics, motorcycles and power sports equipment.-History:...
since 1972 and has played exclusively on Yamaha saxophones since that time.
The "Eugene Rousseau saxophone mouthpiece" has been commercially available since the late 1970s.
In 1985, he recorded a video program for Yamaha Corporation
Yamaha (manufacturer)
is a multinational corporation and conglomerate based in Japan with a wide range of products and services, predominantly musical instruments, electronics, motorcycles and power sports equipment.-History:...
called Steps to Excellence.
Rousseau has served as President of both the North American Saxophone Alliance (1979–1980) and the Comité International du Saxophone (1982–1985).
In 1993, Eugene Rousseau was designated an honorary faculty member of the Prague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory, sometimes also Prague Conservatoire, in Czech Pražská konzervatoř, is a Czech secondary school in Prague dedicated to teaching the arts of music and theater acting.- Instruction :...
.
In 2003, Rousseau hosted the 13th World Saxophone Congress
World Saxophone Congress
The World Saxophone Congress is a festival gathering approximately 1000 saxophonists and other musicians from all over the world. It is currently held every three years at a different congress centre in a different country and focuses primarily on the performance of classical saxophone music.The...
at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
School of Music.
Teaching and performing career
Rousseau is a well-known classical saxophonist and teacher. Many of his students have gone on to become well-known saxophone teachers.He taught at Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
for 36 years, from 1964 to 2000. He was succeeded as professor of saxophone by Otis Murphy
Otis Murphy
Otis Murphy is a classical saxophonist and saxophone professor at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. He joined in 2001 and became one of the youngest members of its faculty in the school's history. Murphy has primarily studied with esteemed saxophonists: Kenneth Fischer, Eugene...
, himself a former student of Rousseau. He holds the title of "Distinguished Professor of Music" there.
Rousseau now teaches at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. He joined the faculty of the School of Music there in fall 2000.
He has taught a master course at the prestigious Mozarteum in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
annually since 1991.
Publications
He wrote a book which was published in France under the title Marcel Mule: sa vie et le saxophone and also in Americaunder the title Marcel Mule: His Life and the Saxophone He also published two method books: The E. Rousseau Beginning
Saxophone Method (English, German, Japanese)and Saxophone High Tones (English, French, German). In addition, he has had many
transcriptions published for saxophone performance.
Recordings
He has made many recordings, several of which are currently commercially available on CD. He has recorded with the Haydn Trio of Vienna, the Budapest Strings, and the Winds of Indiana.- Saxophone Concertos, issued 1971 by Deutsche GrammophonDeutsche GrammophonDeutsche Grammophon is a German classical record label which was the foundation of the future corporation to be known as PolyGram. It is now part of Universal Music Group since its acquisition and absorption of PolyGram in 1999, and it is also UMG's oldest active label...
, was the first disc containing only saxophone concertos with orchestraOrchestraAn orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
. This recording was reissued on compact disc in 1998. - Saxophone Vocalise (Delos 3188) features Rousseau with the Winds of Indiana, Frederick FennellFrederick FennellFrederick Fennell was an internationally recognized conductor, and one of the primary figures in promoting the wind ensemble as a performing group. He was also influential as a band pedagogue, and greatly affected the field of music education in the USA and abroad...
, conductor, playing classical music of Bruch, Gershwin, Heiden, Massenet, Muczynski, Puccini et al. - Celebration (McGill) features Rousseau with the Gerald Danovitch Saxophone QuartetGerald Danovitch Saxophone Quartet-References:*Rowland, Hilary. 'Meet the man behind all that campus jazz,' Montreal Gazette, 27 Oct 1984*McLean, Eric. 'Sax quartet makes strange mix,' ibid, 12 Mar 1988*Tanner, David. 'Gerald Danovitch,' Saxophone Journal, vol 14, Jul-Aug 1989...
- Eugene Rousseau with the Haydn Trio of Vienna (RICA-1003)
- The Music of Jindrich Feld ( RICA-1004) features Rousseau playing music of this Czech composer Jindrich FeldJindrich FeldJindřich Feld was a Czech composer of classical music.-Biography:Feld was born into a musical family, his father a well-known professor of violin at the Prague Conservatory which followed the tradition of Otakar Ševčík, the master of Jan Kubelík. His mother was a violinist...
with the Janacek Philharmonic OrchestraJanáček Philharmonic OrchestraThe Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra is a noted orchestra based in Ostrava in the northeast of the Czech Republic. It is named after the famous Czech composer Leoš Janáček. The orchestra was established in 1954 and has toured all across the world...
and pianist Jaromir Klepac - The Undowithoutable Instrument (RICA-1002) features Rousseau playing soprano saxophoneSoprano saxophoneThe soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
with the Budapest Strings - Saxophone Masterpieces (RICA-1001) features Rousseau with pianist Jaromir Klepac
- Mr. Mellow (Liscio) features Rousseau with the ER Big Band
- Meditation From Thais (ALCD-7021) features Rousseau playing classical works on several different sizes of saxophones
Musical works written for Rousseau
Several well-known pieces for classical saxophone were written for Rousseau, including:- Partita by Juan Orrego-SalasJuan Orrego-SalasJuan Antonio Orrego Salas is a Chilean composer of contemporary classical music and musicologist.He was a student of Randall Thompson and Aaron Copland in the United States, and later he settled in that country in the early 1960s to work at Indiana University, where he co-founded the Latin...
- Sonata 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 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...
by Jindrich FeldJindrich FeldJindřich Feld was a Czech composer of classical music.-Biography:Feld was born into a musical family, his father a well-known professor of violin at the Prague Conservatory which followed the tradition of Otakar Ševčík, the master of Jan Kubelík. His mother was a violinist... - Concerto for saxophones and orchestra by
- Solo by Bernhard HeidenBernhard HeidenBernhard Heiden was a German and American composer and music teacher, who studied under and was heavily influenced by Paul Hindemith...
(1969) - Fantasia Concertante for alto saxophone and winds by Bernhard HeidenBernhard HeidenBernhard Heiden was a German and American composer and music teacher, who studied under and was heavily influenced by Paul Hindemith...
- Hear Again in Memory by Frederick A. FoxFrederick A. FoxFrederick Alfred Fox, Jr. was an American composer and former music educator specializing in contemporary classical music.-Formative Years:...
- Skyscrapings for alto saxophone and piano by Don FreundDon FreundDon Freund is an American composer and Professor of Composition at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music...