Talk:Thomas Tyra

Comments
Tyra is well noted in a number of sources independent of Wikipedia.

- Northwestern University on its webpage notes his contributions to writing the modern words to its alma mater. Indeed Tyra's words are sung at EVERY Northwestern function.

http://www.northwestern.edu/features/historic_moments/02_15_01_song.html

- LSU references Tyra on its Band webpage and in a video of their program -- verifying his accomplishments

http://www.bands.lsu.edu/band_history/index.php

- A Dutch Wikipedia reference to Tyra already exists.

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Tyra

- Kappa-Kappa-Psi reference is as follows.

http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Den/3999/

I have corrected the original reference to Tyra in the EMU wiki site -- he didn't found the band in 1924, but his influence on EMU music is clearly noted in EMU publications:

http://www.emich.edu/focus_emu//pdf/focusemu091002.pdf
 * Are there any articles about him outside of his own university? A newspaper, magazine, or music journal source would be more useful; we've verified his existence, but, in my opinion, not his notability. -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 23:20, 30 December 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the comments -- my first attempt writing a wiki -- my apologies if I'm not proficient here....I'm still working on updating the wiki -- and will provide an updated wiki with references

That all said, I do believe he meets the notability criteria 2,3,4 for "Others" as set forth under Wikipedia.

Given credit by others for his work

As mentioned on their websites, Northwestern, EMU and others give Tyra credit for his contributions to both words and music.

His music is widely used today at University functions at both EMU and Northwestern. This has continued in some cases for over 50 years... many years after his death. Although this is a subjective assessment, I would offer that the second tier of today's popular music does not and will not have longevity that Tyra's music has already demonstrated at its advanced age. Indeed his break strain in the EMU fight song in ingrained in the minds of every alum of that school -- as well it should be for any graduate. Same goes for the word of the alma mater that NU alums know (although admittedly I suspect fewer would remember those words...)

Though they may not know the composer -- they certainly do know his music and his words -- and it isn't acedemically obscure or arcane.

http://hailtopurple.com/av/index.html

As a composer, his compositions continue be played outside of these universities. Indeed, most who play his other compositions are not aware of his contributions to the collegiate music genre.

Here are a few references of recent performances --

At FSU -- http://www.mdmountainside.com/event.php?eventid=3252

In New York State -- http://www.geocities.com/crweband/windband.html

At Interlochen --  http://www.interlochen.org/download_file.php?filename=56brassensemble114.pdf (note that Interlochen believes he is still alive)

In Korea (a recording) http://artcenter.daegu.go.kr/photo_view.php?table_code=photo&seq=502&scoreSeq=1&page=8

-- other performance references are available on the web

His work continues to have commercial viability and is considered to be "standard repetorie" for young instrumental bands. Here are a couple of references where his music is sold today -- and is now in the "standard list" for music competitions for young bands..

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/pages.html?cart=340803053312001196&target=smp_artbrowseresults.html%26style%3Dartist%26artist%3DThomas%2520Tyra&s=pages-http%253A//www.google.com/search%253Fhl%253Den%2526q%253D%252522thomas%252BTyra%252522&e=/sheetmusic/artist/T/Thomas_Tyra.html&t=&k=&r=wwws-err5

http://www.earfloss.com/folios/1630280.html

http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/book.asp?ppn=bksmss68co&SID=1422&arp=1

http://music.utsa.edu/~bharris/ybrp/CDs/ybrp1.html

His work, especially as an arranger, was well-regarded by others.

A Tyra arrangement of a composer Leroy Anderson piece is part of Anderson's permanent collection at Yale University.

http://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/music.mss.0061

Tyra's PhD dissertation on Stravinsky is also cross-referenced by others.

http://www.recordare.com/good/jbr83.html

Mentor for a composer of merit.

Bill Conti's Unofficial website places Conti at LSU during Tyra's tenure, where, as this reference states he was a staff arranger for the LSU Ballet Corps and the University Marching Band -- both of which were under the direction of Tyra or the creations of Tyra as already established on the LSU website. Conti learned low brass ensemble arrangement while working for Tyra at LSU -- and the thundering "Marching Band" low brass style evident the Rocky theme is also evident in the marching band arrangements created by Tyra at EMU, LSU and other places

http://billconti.czechian.net/indexeng.php?text=biog

Hope this helps... —Preceding unsigned comment added by Tyrama (talk • contribs) 01:57, 31 December 2007 (UTC) Bold text