From the program accompanying “Trimpin: Nancarrow Percussion Orchestra” at the Berkeley Art Museum:
“As a young boy in the Black Forest region of Germany, Trimpin (b. 1951) played the flugelhorn, often practicing with his musician father. But when an allergy to metal forced him to stop playing the horn, Trimpin took the opportunity to explore new avenues of musical study, with a particular leaning toward acoustic environments.”