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John Sebastian, born John Sebastian Pugliese (April 25, 1914〔Sebastian, John, no. 165-12-7646 (official death record, also showing date of birth). U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935–2014, available online at Ancestry.com, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Non-official sources such as books and articles have sometimes listed Sebastian's birth date as May 1, 1914, or his birth year as 1916.〕 − August 18, 1980〔〔"John Sebastian, 65, Who Helped Make Harmonica Classical, Dies," ''The New York Times'', August 20, 1980, p. B10. Although this obituary reports Sebastian's age at death as 65, he would have actually been 66 based on his birth date of April 25, 1914 as listed in the official U.S. Social Security Death Index record.〕), was an American musician and composer known as a master of the classical chromatic harmonica. He was the first harmonicist to adopt an all-classical repertoire and, along with Larry Adler and Tommy Reilly, established the harmonica as a serious instrument for classical music. In addition to performing, Sebastian increased the range of classical music available for the harmonica by transcribing numerous existing classical works for the harmonica, composing works of his own, and commissioning or otherwise encouraging other composers to write for the instrument.〔Field, Kim. (''Harmonicas, Harps, and Heavy Breathers: The Evolution of the People's Instrument.'' ) Cooper Square Press, 2000 (updated edition), p. 288-293. ISBN 0815410204.〕 He was the father of singer-songwriter John B. Sebastian, an original member of the 1960s folk rock band The Lovin' Spoonful.〔〔Missin, P. ("Vintage Harmonica 78s" ), patmissin.com, 2014, archived at archive.org, April 3, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.〕 ==Early life== Sebastian was born John Sebastian Pugliese on April 25, 1914,〔 into a wealthy Italian banking family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his father was a bank president. Later in life, Sebastian truncated his name to "John Sebastian."〔〔Herzhaft, David and Gérard. (''Le livre de l'harmonica''. ) Fayard, 2008, p. 127-128. ISBN 9782213645919.〕〔("John Sebastian" (obituary), ) ''Reading Eagle'', August 22, 1980, p. 29. Although this obituary reports Sebastian's age at death as 65, he would have actually been 66 based on his birth date of April 25, 1914 as listed in the official U.S. Social Security Death Index record.〕 He is sometimes called "John Sebastian Sr." to distinguish him from his rock musician son John Benson Sebastian;〔〔Mcdonald, James. ("'Concerto for Harmonica and Orchestra, Op. 86' by Alexandre Tcherepnin: An Arrangement for Marimba With a Performance Guide" (dissertation). ) Texas Tech Univ., May 2014, p. 9. Available online at repositories.tdl.org. Retrieved June 22, 2015.〕 however, the Sr./ Jr. designation is not strictly correct as his son has a different middle name. As a boy, Sebastian became interested in the harmonica, which in the 1920s was being promoted to Philadelphia youth through bands and contests organized by philanthropist Albert N. Hoxie and sponsored by the Philadelphia Rotary Club and Musical League.〔("Boys' Corner: Boys and Harmonicas", ) ''The Rotarian'', April 1929, p. 60.〕 The harmonica was seen as a cheap instrument, easy to learn and play,〔Owens, Garry, ("Learning to Play a Harmonica", ) ''Boys' Life'', July 1928, p. 48.〕 that could provide young people with both a social outlet and the basic musical knowledge to stimulate their interest in learning more "important" instruments such as piano and violin. In 1924, approximately 10,000 boys participated in the citywide harmonica contest, and by 1926, an estimated 70,000 Philadelphia boys were members of harmonica groups.〔 Sebastian's harmonica skills were quickly recognized. He joined Hoxie's Philadelphia Harmonica Band, an elite ensemble of 50 to 60 boys that traveled the country and played for presidents, visiting dignitaries, and special events such as the Philadelphia celebration of Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight. He also worked for several seasons as an instructor at Hoxie's summer harmonica camp, teaching other boys to play.〔〔 By age 12, he was featured as a soloist with John Philip Sousa's band.〔Ireland, Edward. ("Harmonica Virtuoso to be Soloist With Summer Symphony Tonight," ) ''The Miami News'', July 7, 1957, p. 16A.〕〔("Harmonica Virtuoso to Open Concerts," ) ''Lockport Union-Sun & Journal'' (Lockport, New York), November 1, 1946, p. 4, archived online at fultonhistory.com. Retrieved June 20, 2015.〕 In 1930, at age 16, Sebastian won the citywide contest and was named Philadelphia's harmonica champion. His prize included a one-week engagement at the Mastbaum Theatre, then the largest and most lavish movie theater in Philadelphia,〔Haas, Howard B., ("Mastbaum Theatre" ), cinematreasures.org, May 6, 2009, archived at archive.org April 17, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.〕 for which he was paid $125. Rejecting a management request that he play the popular "St. Louis Blues," he chose instead to play an adaptation of pianist Alexander Borovsky's composition "Adoration", which was well received by the audience.〔〔 Despite this early success, Sebastian's father did not want his son to have a musical career and instead encouraged his interests in history and Renaissance art. Sebastian graduated from Haverford College in 1936 and studied abroad in Rome and Florence in preparation for a foreign service career, although he was still interested in the harmonica. On the ship back to the United States, he met and was encouraged by Broadway composers Rodgers and Hart, and some time thereafter decided to make the harmonica his career.〔〔〔Gill, Kenneth, ("In the Realm of Music: Mme. Berger, Brailowsky Coming Soon," ) ''Buffalo Courier-Express'', January 18, 1953, p. 16-C, archived online at fultonhistory.com. Retrieved June 19, 2015.〕〔("Comes to Lodi Next Monday: Abandoned Diplomatic Career for Harmonica", ) ''Lodi News-Sentinel'' (California), November 6, 1945, p. 1.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「John Sebastian (classical harmonica player)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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