premierbrass.org

I would like to thank the trumpet community for their gracious comments about the passing of my beloved father Roger.

Although Roger’s name immediately suggests the trumpet, people who have met him, studied with him, and performed and collaborated with him all understand that the trumpet was only his instrument not his language.

Music was his language.
Roger’s mission was to “Serve Music” not “Serve Trumpet”.
He was taught that by his father, Rene.

When I was 9 years old, I was taught Solfege for 2 years by Marcelle LaFosse the second trumpet Of the BSO. Gaston Dufresne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaston_Dufresne) a BSO double bass player had taught all the children of BSO players. Those young musicians were overwhelmed by it and the training never took.

When Roger asked Gaston to teach me, Gaston refused and did not want to drive me away from music. Rene Voisin (his father) and Gaston also insisted that Roger learn the double-bass (just in case) which he did.

Marcelle said he would teach me. He was very kind and did not demand as much as he would have been able to. In spite of that, I did progress and it was not until 11 years old that I was given the privilege of embarrassing myself on the trumpet.

I learned to conduct, sight-sing, ear train, and transpose before I could ever play the trumpet.

It was Music first, trumpet second.

The mental training and syllabic articulation required to sing solfege in time, in tune, and “in music” became habit. When I began to take that training and then apply it to an instrument (it could have been ANY instrument),
there I was (horizontally) in the middle of a musical phrase or (vertically) contributing with a secondary role in an ensemble passage.

Transposition was mental training. It was musical boot camp. Great jazz musicians can take a tune or song and put it in any key they want (transposition) and sometimes even in the same performance. Although I can transpose, I can’t improvise but admire musicians who can. Roger did as well and always invited Doc, and Al, and Bobby over to his house to pick their brains
about how they did that! Good music was good music! It did not matter what style or technique was being used.

Great musician do more that the minimum required. It gives them an extra measure of confidence and flexibility. I like it!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I move through the rest of my life, I am going to ask all of you in the trumpet world to take time to check out Roger’s approach to music, solfege, and where we can go using the trumpet only as an instrument on which to make music.

You may see me appear from time to time on a web site or two, or at an ITG event. Please take time to say hello.

Don’t get me wrong, Roger did know all about the trumpet.
His secret of the “Masque” is classic. http://www.premierbrass.org/voisinnation/id11.html.

But music IS an international language.
And trumpet players are all over this planet.
We can make the world a better place if we choose to!


It has been a long journey over the last few months especially for Martha, my mother.
But Roger has moved on to better accommodations and has left it to us continue His legacy to “Serve Music”.

I look around at the family he left behind and his students, and his colleagues, and his friends.
There is no doubt in my mind that we will!
Thank you ALL for your prayers and thoughts.
You are all part of "CHEZ VOISIN"!

With affection,

Peter Voisin
103 Mountain Place
Hendersonville, NC 28791
828.697.3244 home
828.551.6837 cell
828.694.0505 work
Premier Brass
Carolina Mountain Guild
VoisinNation
Chez Voisin Foods
Chez Voisin Homepage
Stonebrook Homeowners Association

rowuk

Thank you Peter!
I don't think a more suitable hommage could have been paid!

Robin

ecarroll

Peter,

Please let me echo Robin. Your father was a great, great man.

All my best wishes to you and your family,
EC

MJ

Thank you for that excellent post Peter. My best to you and your family during this time.

Mike M

wiseone2

I was blessed to hear Roger Voisin in Philadelphia when I was a high school student. The BSO was playing "Ein Heldenleben." On that ascending dotted half-note passage ending on a high C, he made a crescendo that to this day I remember. It shook the walls of the Academy of Music.

I didn't know that he was also a bass player, my teacher, Sigmund Hering was also a fine bassist.

Roger Voisin wrote the first orchestral excerpts book I owned. It is impossible to find these days. The book was hand written as I recall. M. Baron was the publisher.

Wilmer

Pedal C

Peter...thanks for posting this. I studied with one of your father's students...like James Thompson said, my knee was "black and blue" too!

Jason.