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| In Remembrance: Rupert Kettle |
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| Rupert Kettle, a supreme and enduring teacher-mentor, a composer of great musical works (especially for percussion), and a dear friend, passed away Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 8:30 p.m. EST. |
| Sorrow weighs heavily on us now, but the profoundly meaningful life Rupert led and the immense gratitude and appreciation of his many students and colleagues, past and present, imbues our sorrow with a joy that is both beautiful and bittersweet. Rupert changed people's lives for the better. There is no attainment higher than that in this life.Please keep Rupert, and especially his wife Char, in your thoughts and prayers. |
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| Biography |
Rupert Kettle, Aquinas Adjunct Professor of Music, was raised in Grand Rapids. His earliest percussion teachers were Walter Walski and Donald Patterson. Later, in New York City, Kettle studied with Henry Adler, Doug Allen (keyboard percussions), and Alfred Friese (timpani). His composition and/or arranging teachers have included Henri Gibeau, Ted Maters. Teije Ito, John Cage and Richard Cone.
Kettle is the author of countless articles on percussion playing which have appeared in DownBeat, Modern Drummer, Percussive Notes, and various other magazines. His music, published by Studio 4 Music and HoneyRock Publishing Company, is performed worldwide. As of 2003, Kettle's work is also being disseminated by the composers' collective, Frog Peak Music, a prestigious group of American experimental composers, including Larry Polansky, Jody Diamond, James Tenney, Philip Corner, and the late Lou Harrison.
Since 1965, Kettle has devoted himself primarily to being a professional private teacher, first in New York City, then in Grand Rapids. Kettle's commitment to education, and his abilities as a teacher was acknowledged by Aquinas College in 2000, when the school bestowed upon him the honorary degree of doctor of fine arts. Kettle taught percussion, band methods and percussion group at Aquinas. |
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