Dr. Richard I. Schwartz, born in St. Louis, Missouri USA, received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree in 1973 from the University of Michigan; a Master of Clarinet Performance from Washington University, St. Louis in 1975; and a Ph. D. in Music Theory from Washington University in 1982. He is the author of the highly acclaimed The Cornet Compendium viewable at http://www.angelfire.com/music2/thecornetcompendium and the Supplement to The Cornet Compendium. He has published several compositions including a saxophone quartet with JTL Music Publishers and trombone compositions with Warwick Music, collaborating with Mark J. La Fratta.
His articles have been published by the NACWAPI Journal, the Music Educators Journal, and the Historic Brass Society Journal. His dissertation, An Annotated English Translation of Harmonielehre of Rudolf Louis and Rudolf Louis, has been acquired by many research and university libraries throughout the world. Presently employed at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia as Coordinator of the Music Theory Faculty, his most recent endeavours include a transcription of a tenor trombone piece by Ziani with Mark J. La Fratta and groundbreaking research for a book (and database) with his wife, Iris, dealing with bands and band compositions played at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri USA.
His compositions have included original pieces for piano, clarinet, cornet quartet, saxophone quartet, concert (or military) band, and many transcriptions for British Brass Band, American Brass Consort, cornet quartet, and concert (or military) band. Richard performs many recitals and plays in many ensembles on clarinet, saxophone, and his newest passion, the cornet.