Colvig, William

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Colvig, William

Colvig, William, American instrument maker and performer; b. Medford, Ore., March 13, 1917; d. Capitola, Calif., March 2, 2000. He was born into a musical family, and studied piano from the age of six. He played in bands and orchs. during his formal studies at the Univ. of Calif, at Berkeley and the Coll. of the Pacific in Stockton. In 1967 he initiated an association with the composer Lou Harrison, for whom he built many instruments, including psalteries, harps, flutes, mono-chords, and several complete gamelans. He performed on these instruments in many of Harrison’s compositions, as well as on traditional instruments in concerts and lectures. His instruments have been used by the San Francisco Sym. and San Francisco Opera Co., among others; he built the gamelans housed at the Univ. of Calif, at Berkeley and at Mills Coll. in Oakland.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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Colvig, William

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