To see current articles on the career history of Claude Gordon and Herbert L. Clarke see the May/July, August/September and the October/November 2005 issues of The Brass Herald magazine (published in the United Kingdom by Philip Biggs) or go to their web page at: www.thebrassherald.com.

The recognition of Claude Gordon as the "foremost authority on brass playing" came about through his lifetime achievements in the skillful art of trumpet playing and comprehensive brass playing teaching. The legacy that Claude left to the brass world built the bridge of understanding between knowledge and wisdom as they apply to brass playing techniques. This legacy is now being preserved, along with the Herbert L. Clarke Collection, and is open for inspection in the John Phillip Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, Urbana-Champaign, a division of the Illinois University Library.

Herbert L. Clarke, noted cornet virtuoso during the era of concert bands, was the epitome of the medium and the legendary brass teacher of his time. As one of his students, Claude Gordon came to possess essential brass playing knowledge from both the 19th and 20th centuries, thanks to his decade-long relationship with Clarke and his own personal rise to fame as a studio player, orchestra leader, and world renowned brass teacher.

The acquisition of the Gordon papers, instruments, manuscripts, recordings, and books on brass playing has come full circle to now reside with the collecton of Claude Gordon's founding inspiration, Herbert L. Clarke. Both Clarke and Gordon became great musicians and brass playing educators as they shared a common desire to pass on their expertise to help others to become true artists.

All of those whose lives were made better through friendship with Claude Gordon, or were among the fortunate few who were also his students, can continue Claude's legacy by contributing to the fund established for the preservation of the Claude Gordon Collection. The continuation of his comprehensive teaching is our greatest gift to all brass players, both past and present, and for future generations.

To give your support for this collection, please send a check made out to UIF/Sousa Archives with "Claude Gordon Collection" noted in the memo section. The check should be mailed to the University of Illinois Foundation, P. O. Box 3429, Champaign, Il 61826-9916. All gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by the tax code.

Gifts may also be made online using a credit card. You can do that by going to www.library.uiuc.edu and clicking on the icon for the Library Friends on the left side of the screen. At the Library Friends website, click on "Make a Gift Online" and proceed by filling in the amount you wish to contribute. When you continue to the screen where you enter the data about your name and credit card there is a special box at the bottom of the screen for instructions. In that box indicate your gift is for the Sousa Archives for the "Claude Gordon Collection."

If you wish to explore other ways of making a gift for the Claude Gordon Collection with a transfer of securities or with a deferred gift instrument please contact the address above.

In the meantime, there is a website being created for your inspection of the Claude Gordon Collection. Of course there is only a bit of information currently available but as the collection is processed the site will be expanded. www.library.uiuc.edu/sousa

This Website will provide future announcements of current and up coming events surrounding the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music and the Claude Gordon Collection.

Respectfully, Patty Gordon

Update: 12/02/05