Steve Larson

Dec. 30, 1955 - June 7, 2011

Steve Larson, Corvallis native, died on June 7, 2011, in Eugene, at the age of 55.

Steve was born Dec. 30, 1955, in Corvallis to Milt and Billie Larson, and graduated from Corvallis High School in 1974.

He attended the University of Oregon, where he earned two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in music from the Honors College, and a Master of Arts in music theory. He also developed his chops as a fine jazz pianist, and played in a rock 'n' roll band called Scandal. In fact, Scandal became so successful that Steve dropped out of school to devote his full time to practicing, performing and concertizing with the band.

Eventually, however, he returned to Eugene and academic life. He followed his degrees at Eugene with a doctorate in music theory from the University of Michigan, where his dissertation, "Schenkerian Analysis of Modern Jazz," was supported by a Rackham Fellowship, and was nominated for an Outstanding Dissertation Award.

Early in his career, Steve taught music theory at Temple University and the University of Washington, and was a visiting faculty research associate at Indiana University.

He had returned to Oregon, though, and held an endowed chair at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance as the Robert M. Trotter Professor of Music, eventually reaching the rank of full professor. He taught undergraduate courses in basic musicianship and graduate seminars on a variety of topics; he was also a member of the UO Institute of Cognitive and Decision Sciences.

Steve was well-known and widely published in the area of music theory. His research and presentations dealt with Schenkerian theory, performance and analysis, jazz, the pedagogy of musicianship, and music cognition. His articles appeared in leading journals of music theory and in journals of other disciplines.

He wrote two books, "Analyzing Jazz: A Schenkerian Perspective" and "Musical Forces: Motion, Metaphor and Meaning in Music," which is forthcoming from Indiana University Press. The intellectual estate he leaves behind includes several nearly completed book manuscripts.

Steve's greatest pleasures were his children, Eric and Hannah; his wife, Sonja; playing the piano; cooking (and eating!); red wine; friendship; playing games; the music of Bach; his work; and keeping fit. He was a generous teacher, colleague, husband, son, father and friend. He enjoyed taking on and documenting new challenges: He had made a multi-year plan for learning the Bach "Well-Tempered Clavier."

He loved spending time at the beach, and did much of his writing there. As a jazz pianist, Steve performed as a soloist and as a member of a number of groups, including the Jazz Piano Collective and the Steve Larson Trio.

Steve is survived by his parents; his wife, Sonja Rasmussen; his children, Eric and Hannah; their mother, his ex-wife, Winnie Kerner; his brothers Greg Larson (Stefanie Kessler) of Boston, Mass., and Arne Larson (Peggy Carrick) of Corvallis; his sister, Linda Larson (Bill Pelto) of Boone, N.C.; and many other relatives.

There will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. Aug. 13 at Grace Lutheran Church, Corvallis. Gifts in his memory can be sent to the Steve Larson Memorial Fund, School of Music Development Office, UO Foundation, Eugene, OR 97403. A celebration of his life is also planned for next January in Eugene.