Author: Tom Piercy
Date: 2017-02-04 23:29
Gervase De Peyer has left us.
A sad day for his family, friends, and students.
A sad day for the clarinet and music world.
You will be missed, dear Gervase.
His voice is silenced.
His music will live on in my heart, mind and ears.
A great teacher and mentor, a great friend. A true inspiration.
Very early on in my lessons with Gervase, he told me to write something down. He said it was important.
I still have that note.
"Do Something,
Say Something,
Don't be Predictable."
I try to to live up to these words every time I play.
Gervase de Peyer was my most influential and long-lasting teacher and mentor. His sound - bold, colorful - was in my head since I was a teenager. I moved to NYC to study with him and continued to learn from him until the last time we spoke. He was always there to give advice and encouragement, both about music and life.
His personality and musicality were a great match: bigger than life, full of energy, endlessly curious. His playing was unique and almost instantly recognizable: full of charm and elegance, with a powerful technique always at the service to the music. Many composers wrote their music for him, as they knew he would bring a great life to those little black dots on the page. Playing for him, and with him, was a walk on the high-wire: endlessly exciting and thrilling; always learning and living something new.
It was a true honor and joy to become friends with Gervase and his dear wife Katia. So many good laughs; so many good talks about music and life. My deepest sympathies to Katia and the family.
With a deep love and respect, and endless gratitude for all you did for me, goodbye for now, Gervase.
Until I see you again, I will continue to try to "Do Something, Say Something, Don't be Predictable."
http://www.gervasedepeyer.com/
Tom Piercy
Post Edited (2017-02-05 00:37)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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