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Music
One of the little jewels of his output is the Rondo for tuba and piano, published by Barnhouse. It has a minor/modal quirky flavor, in ABA form, with an accompaniment prominently using the open fifths found in much of his music.
Other pieces include two Quintets for Brass Instruments, duets for tuba & tympani, Rondo for euphonium and piano, Sonatina for baritone horn/bassoon and piano, suites for 3, 4 & 6 tubas.
(Contribution by Henry Payne <henry87
earthlink.net>)
Life
William Presser was born in Saginaw, MI in 1916. He received music degrees from Alma College, University of Michigan (M.M. in violin), and the Eastman School of Music (Ph.D. in theory). His teachers included Roy Harris, Gardner Read, Bernard Rogers, Burrill Phillips, and Pierre Monteux.
Dr. Presser has performed as violinist and violist in the San Francisco Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, and other orchestras, and taught at colleges in six states, primarily the University of Mississippi in Hattiesburg where he served on the faculty from 1953 until his retirement in 1981. He has also taught at the National Music Camp at Interlochen.
Presser began composing at age 25 and has won many awards, with music in the catalogs of over twenty publishers. His chamber music for winds and brass are staples of the repertoire, appearing on many contest lists and college recitals.
William Presser founded Tritone Press & Tenuto Publications in 1961 and over his 41-year tenure built a catalog of over 350 works by over 50 American composers.