THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO AN ILLNESS. AT THIS TIME THE EVENT HAS NOT BEEN RESCHEDULED.
Dr. Brian Holmes, Professor of Physics at San Jose State University will speak at Gustavus Adolphus College at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 3 in Room 214 of the Schaefer Fine Arts Building. Dr. Holmes’ talk is titled “The Physics of Brass Musical Instruments, or What Do Horn Players Do With Their Right Hands, Anyway?”
This humorous and engaging talk, with numerous demonstrations, will illustrate how sound is produced by brass instruments. During the course of his talk, Dr. Holmes will build a trumpet to show the acoustical significance of each part. Dr. Holmes will conclude his presentation with a performance of Beethoven’s Sonata in F for Horn and Piano Op. 17, played on a valveless horn like those in use when the music was written.
Dr. Holmes was born in Washington D.C. and received his bachelor’s degree from Pomona College and his Ph.D. in experimental low temperature physics from Boston University. He joined the Physics Department at San Jose State University in 1983. He is co-principal horn of the Peninsula Symphony, a member of the San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra, and a member of the Menlo Brass Quintet. He has also been a regular performer with the San Jose Symphony and Opera San Jose. He has published 20 compositions, won a dozen composition contests, and completed a dozen commissions.
Dr. Holmes’ talk at Gustavus is free and open to the public, and is co-sponsored by the Gustavus physics and music departments. For more information about this event, contact Professor of Physics Tom Huber at 507-933-7036 or huber@gustavus.edu.
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