CLAIR OMAR MUSSER

(b. Oct. 14, 1901; d. Nov. 7, 1998)

By Frederick D. Fairchild

Marimba virtuoso Clair Omar Musser's influence on playing, teaching, composition, and manufacture has been pervasive. He performed his own arrangements of Chopin, Mendelssohn, Bach, Paganini, and others internationally. His solo compositions and transcriptions and his ensemble arrangements have enjoyed great popularity. Musser’s large marimba orchestras were acclaimed throughout the world. He was a teacher of renown, having headed the Northwestern University Marimba Department for ten years and sent many of his students to important positions in playing and teaching. His innovations in grip, mallets, and technique revolutionized marimba and vibraphone playing. An inventor and designer of instruments, he custom-made instruments for many famous performers. Musser also founded the company that bears his name.

PAS MEMBERS ONLY

You can find the following in the PAS publication Archives:

"Clair Omar Musser; The Imperial Marimba Symphony Orchestra; The Celestaphone Story; The Marimba-Xylophone; The Musser Scrapbook" : Percussive Notes, Vol. 37, No. 2, April 1999 (780k pdf file)

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