The Professional Jeffrey Quick
(Note: much of this information can be found in a more compact form in
vita.html)
Early training
Jeffrey Quick began composing at about the age of 11, shortly after beginning
cornet study in school. His first works, all orchestral (including a symphony
in C Flat), were written on staff-ruled notebook paper, using information
gleaned from the World Book Encyclopedia. His first publicly performed
works were piano pieces he played on his teacher Mrs. Norman's piano recitals.
His first large ensemble work to be performed was Exordium for Band,
premiered by the Croswell-Lexington High School Band (with the composer
as first-chair baritone horn) directed by Paul Parets, in 1974.
Musical training and experience were hard to come by in the small town
of Lexington MI. His first harmony book was Chadwick from 1907, from the
Lexington library. He got to know the work of Ives and Bartok through his
Junior High band instructor, Edward Pitrago, who was principal bassoon
with the International Symphony Orchestra of Sarnia and Port Huron, concerts
of which Quick attended when he could. Mahler he first heard through the
static of an AM broadcast from Detroit. He took both band and choir, attended
summer music camps, and did what he could to prepare himself. Parets finally
convinced Quick's parents to send him to that feared hotbed of radical
politics, the University of Michigan. Quick was sure that his baritone
playing would be an impediment, but it was the composition department where
he failed to find a home. For financial reasons, education needed to be
public and in-state, and U-M was the best option, so Quick declared a theory
major and went on.
College
Quick began euphonium study with Abe Torchinsky, who later passed him to
his assistants (of whom John Griffiths was a most capable pedagogue). He
passed out of 3 terms of non-majors piano, which left him only 5 to take.
His disinclination to practice, in combination with the system of juries
each semester, led to little progress. His theory courses went well, and
he took nonmajor composition courses with William Bolcom and Leslie Bassett,
but did not enter the composition department. After 5 semesters, Quick
realized that he could never become a True Believer in the creed of St.
Heinrich Schenker (for whom, nonetheless, he has great respect), so he
switched to a music history major, with which he graduated in 1978.
A Short but Free Lance
One small omission in Quick's education was any practical advice in How
to Earn a Living Through Music. He wasn't ready for grad school or for
a service band job, so he earned his living in less creative ways while
exploring possibilities. He began to study voice with Larry Vote and Ellen
Hargis, singing in the Ann Arbor Consort of Voices. He played sackbut with
The Early Brass Consort (of Detroit), with whom he first experienced the
thrill of making Real Money playing Renaissance Fairs. (Click here
for a photo of Quick playing fanfare trumpet). All this time he continued
composing, and was occasionally even performed. In 1986, Quick moved to
Cleveland, where he played with the Case Western early brass under Dr.
Ross Duffin. After a year studying composition with Dr. Richard Franks
at the Cleveland Music School Settlement (CMSS), he entered Cleveland State
University (CSU) as a composition major.
College Again
Quick was hired in as graduate assistant in the Choral Studies Dept. of
CSU. (Later he taught ear training.) His lack of choral directing experience
was not an impediment, as he mostly made programs and orgssociation got
him several commissions.
Quick spent his first year studying with the late Bain Murray, then
worked for a quarter with Edwin London. Rudolph Bubalo was his thesis advisor.
One of the chief benefits of composition study at CSU is the availability
of the fine Cleveland Chamber Symphony as ensemble in residence. He wrote
three short orchestral pieces for them, and heard them as soon as the ink
was dry.
During this time, and afterwards, Quick was employed as a teacher and
music retailer at CMSS. His background in musicology came in handy when
special-ordering obscure music for the CMSS Music Shop. Upon Bain Murray's
death in early 1993, he took over his Advanced Counterpoint classes. Later,
he taught Music Theory and Harmony I at CSU. He also performed the occasional
polka gig with the Joe Wendel Ensemble (have lederhosen, will travel: click
here for photo) and the occasional Renaissance gig,
as well as being a church chorister at St. James Anglican Catholic Church.
In 1998 he became assistant music librarian at Case Western Reserve University.
Quick joined the Cleveland Composers Guild in 1994. In 1995, as a result
of a scheme to put the CCG on the World-Wide Web, he was elected as secretary,
which meant that not only did he have to follow through with his scheme,
but also had to learn desktop publishing to do the newsletter. He was suckered
into becoming President in 1999, a jab he bequeathed to the able hands
of Daniel McCarthy in 2001.
Quick's Internet activity has earned him performances in various corners
of the country, as well as leading to several publications by Hoyt Editions
of Seattle WA.
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