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| Alexander Dunn |
I don't do obituaries here as a rule, leaving that to Slipped Disc, but I want to honor a fine guitarist and friend. Alex Dunn was an outstanding student of Pepe Romero and we met in Pepe's master class in Salzburg in 1988. He, along with Randy Pile (editor of the guitar music of Joaquin Rodrigo), were private students with Pepe in San Diego. Alex was an excellent guitarist with superior technical and musical skills. He was also an authority on the French guitarist and lutenist Robert de Visée on whom he did his doctoral dissertation.
In 1990, when I decided to take leave of Victoria, British Columbia, I recommended Alex for both my teaching jobs, at the University of Victoria and the Victoria Conservatory of Music where I was head of the guitar department. I was back there last May to attend premieres of my String Quartet No. 2 and had lunch with Alex whom I hadn't seen for years. He showed his generous nature when afterwards he published this on his FaceBook page:
What a pleasure to see Bryan Townsend, the founder of the University of Victoria guitar program. With typical determination and hard work, Bryan built up an exceptional program from scratch that has been an honor to carry forward.
Over lunch I asked Alex if he had any idea that he would still be here, over thirty years later. He said, "god, no!" Sadly, over the years the environment has steadily worsened for the classical guitar. I had eight students at the university and the conservatory had several guitar teachers and dozens of students. Now, the conservatory features less and less classical music as it moves to a pop music focus. And the university just has a couple of students.
Alex kept up an active performing career. Just in December he asked me to look into possible venues for some concerts in Mexico with his guitar quartet. In fact, he asked me to sit in as the fourth guitarist for their concerts in Mexico. Sadly, I was unable to help him out and the Mexican leg of the tour, projected for this coming Fall, is not happening.
I'm happy to have known Alex, a fine, dedicated musician who brought a lot of good into the world, but sadly received little reward or recognition.
I think this is a better representation: Dark Angels by Peter Maxwell Davies with soprano Susan Young.
Sorry to hear. I hadn't heard of Dunn but clearly a fine player who championed some very interesting repertoire. Wish players like him got more attention.
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly. He had the great advantage of growing up in the San Diego area and having the opportunity to study with Pepe Romero privately for a few years. He was a really solid technician and a fine musician. Sadly, he seems to be worse-represented on YouTube than I am!
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