Eugene Rousseau (saxophonist)

Eugene Rousseau (born 23 August 1932 in Blue Island, Illinois) is an American classical saxophonist. He plays mainly the alto and soprano saxophones.

He studied at the Paris conservatory on a Fulbright grant with Marcel Mule in 1962. Following his studies at theParis 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.

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 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 holds master classes for the saxophonists that are enrolled in the University of Minnesota Honor Band, as well as for saxophonists who attend his annual International Saxophone Master Class held at the University of Minnesota.

He has taught a master course at the prestigious Mozarteum in Salzburg 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 America

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.

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 Grammophon, was the first disc containing only saxophone concertos with orchestra. This recording was reissued on compact disc in 1998.
*"Saxophone Vocalise" (Delos 3188) features Rousseau with the Winds of Indiana, Frederick Fennell, conductor, playing classical music of Bruch, Gershwin, Heiden, Massenet, Muczynski, Puccini "et al."
*"Celebration" (McGill) features Rousseau with the Gerald Danovitch Saxophone Quartet
*"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 Feld with the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra and pianist Jaromir Klepac
*"The Undowithoutable Instrument" (RICA-1002) features Rousseau playing soprano saxophone 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-Salas
*"Sonata for alto saxophone and piano" by Jindrich Feld
*"Concerto for saxophones and orchestra" by
*"Solo" by Bernhard Heiden (1969)
*"Fantasia Concertante" for alto saxophone and winds by Bernhard Heiden
*"Hear Again in Memory" by Frederick Fox
*"Skyscrapings" for alto saxophone and piano by Don Freund

External links

* [http://www.erousseau.com/ Eugene Rousseau's official website]
* [http://www.music.umn.edu/directory/facProfiles/RousseauEugene.php Web page about Eugene Rousseau on University of Minnesota web site]
* [http://www.indiana.edu/~alldrp/members/rousseau.html Web page about Eugene Rousseau on Indiana University's web site]
* [http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/853.html Article on Rousseau's retirement from Indiana University]
* [http://www.delosmus.com/item/de31/de3188.html Description of Rousseau's album "Saxophone Vocalise"]