"Running Through The World Like An Open Razor" (Music for Strange Orchestra)
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About
Glenn Branca is a symphonist. In the last 29 years he has composed 14 symphonies: six for electric
guitar ensemble (1,2,6,8,10,12), three for harmonic series instrumentation (3,4,5), three for
conventional symphony orchestra (7,9,11), one for "strange orchestra" (15) and No. 13 (Hallucination
City) for 100 guitars which premiered in NYC at the former WTC in 2001. Since 2006 a revised version
of the 100 guitar piece in four movements has been performed in Rome, London (as part of the Frieze
Art Fair), Dublin, Belgium, LA (sponsored by the LA Philharmonic), New Jersey (Peak Performance
Series at Montclair St. Univ.), Seattle (sponsored by the Seattle Art Museum) and St. Louis (sponsored
by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra).
He has also composed many shorter works for a wide variety of Instrumentation, as well as an unproduced opera, a film soundtrack, two ballets and numerous dance and theater pieces. Recent short compositions have been: "In Perpetuity" a special commission for MTV, "Acoustic Phenomena" and "Compositional Recreations" commissioned for the Bang on a Can All Stars, a new performance of "Guitars d'Amour" by Fireworks, a string quartet version of "Light Field" for The Kronos String Quartet commissioned by Carnegie Hall, "Lesson No.3 (a tribute to Steve Reich)" commissioned by the Barbican Center, London and "House of Leaves" commissioned by Art Zoid.
In 2006 Atavistic released for the first time "Indeterminate Activity Of Resultant Masses (for 10 guitars and drums)". Recorded in 1981, this is the piece of music that "disturbed" John Cage and has not been heard since the mid-80's. In 2010 he started the label Systems Neutralizers that so far this year has released a cd of new music for his ensemble: "The Ascension: The Sequel", "Symphony No. 7" (for orchestra) recorded live in concert in Graz, Austria,1989 and "Euphobia" by The Paranoid Critical Revolution.
He began work In 2008 on "Symphony No. 14 (The Harmonic Series)" a new symphony for orchestra, the first movement of which was commissioned by The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and premiered on Nov. 13, 2008 conducted by David Robertson. He is also the inventor of the Harmonics Guitar and a founding member of 70's No Wave bands Theoretical Girls and The Static.
He has received awards in Music Composition from CAPS, NY in 1983, The National Endowment for the Arts in 1988, The New York Foundation for the Arts in 1998 and The Foundation for Contemporary Arts in 2009.
Artists: (Musicians for Symphony No. 15) Reg Bloor, Glenn Branca, Evelyne Buhler, Libby Fab, Eric Hubel, Justin Kantor, Greg McMullen, Ben Miller, Sarah Mullins, John Myers, Wharton Tiers, Ryan Walsh and Evans Wohlforth
He has also composed many shorter works for a wide variety of Instrumentation, as well as an unproduced opera, a film soundtrack, two ballets and numerous dance and theater pieces. Recent short compositions have been: "In Perpetuity" a special commission for MTV, "Acoustic Phenomena" and "Compositional Recreations" commissioned for the Bang on a Can All Stars, a new performance of "Guitars d'Amour" by Fireworks, a string quartet version of "Light Field" for The Kronos String Quartet commissioned by Carnegie Hall, "Lesson No.3 (a tribute to Steve Reich)" commissioned by the Barbican Center, London and "House of Leaves" commissioned by Art Zoid.
In 2006 Atavistic released for the first time "Indeterminate Activity Of Resultant Masses (for 10 guitars and drums)". Recorded in 1981, this is the piece of music that "disturbed" John Cage and has not been heard since the mid-80's. In 2010 he started the label Systems Neutralizers that so far this year has released a cd of new music for his ensemble: "The Ascension: The Sequel", "Symphony No. 7" (for orchestra) recorded live in concert in Graz, Austria,1989 and "Euphobia" by The Paranoid Critical Revolution.
He began work In 2008 on "Symphony No. 14 (The Harmonic Series)" a new symphony for orchestra, the first movement of which was commissioned by The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and premiered on Nov. 13, 2008 conducted by David Robertson. He is also the inventor of the Harmonics Guitar and a founding member of 70's No Wave bands Theoretical Girls and The Static.
He has received awards in Music Composition from CAPS, NY in 1983, The National Endowment for the Arts in 1988, The New York Foundation for the Arts in 1998 and The Foundation for Contemporary Arts in 2009.
Artists: (Musicians for Symphony No. 15) Reg Bloor, Glenn Branca, Evelyne Buhler, Libby Fab, Eric Hubel, Justin Kantor, Greg McMullen, Ben Miller, Sarah Mullins, John Myers, Wharton Tiers, Ryan Walsh and Evans Wohlforth