How Composers Think, Processing Traditional Procedures

Biographical Sketch

Robert Richard ("Dick") Trevarthen

I am a native North Carolinian, born in 1933, and graduated from Gastonia High School NC in 1950. I started public school band in the forth grade on a cornet. In eighth grade I switched to what I thought was a baritone horn - it was actually a euphonium - something I only learned several years later. While still in high school, I attended what was then called Transylvania Music Camp, now Brevard Music Festival, for several years.

There I met Paul Bryan and followed him to Duke University. It was his first year teaching and my freshman year. We are still great friends - in fact I collaborated with him on his biography, which has just been published.

My undergraduate degree is from Duke University. I played trombone in the bands, both concert and marching and studied trombone and theory with Paul Bryan. I composed and arranged for the bands and became involved in Hoof 'N Horn, of the theater department, played piano and trombone in combos and dance bands including the well-known Duke Ambassadors.

Upon graduation from Duke, I got married and enrolled in the University of Michigan, where I got a Master's degree in theory.  Further graduate studies were at the University of Pennsylvania, studying composition with George Rochberg. I also studied music composition with Ian Hamilton, William Klenz, and Don Gillis.

I taught one year at Duke University while William Klenz was on sabbatical. Then I taught trombone and theory at Western Carolina University for 31 years, continuing to write numerous compositions, arrangements, and transcriptions. I wrote a 3-volume method of trombone playing which included etudes, solos, and transcriptions.

Meanwhile, my first wife and I produced four boys, who now live in the Portland, Oregon area.

I instigated and became conductor of the Smokey Mountain British Brass Band for eleven years - a band which is still flourishing.

After retirement in 1990, I continue my musical interests conducting, arranging, and following my keen interest in music theory.

R. Richard Trevarthen, 2017

Robert Richard (Dick) Trevarthen died August 17, 2022. I hope his keen insight into the compositional techniques of the great composers will live forever. -Margaret Hale, his music theory student and friend.