Larry Austin
American composer of electronic and computer music.
Larry Don Austin (September 12, 1930 – December 30, 2018) was an American composer known for his electronic and computer music works. He co-founded and edited the avant-garde periodical Source: Music of the Avant Garde and gained international recognition for completing Charles Ives's Universe Symphony. Austin also served as president of the International Computer Music Association from 1990 to 1994.
Quick Facts
- Born
- September 12, 1930
- Died
- December 30, 2018
- Field
- Composer
- Nationality
- American
- Known for
- Electronic and computer music, completion of Charles Ives's Universe Symphony
Facts from the source article.
Early life
Larry Austin came into the world in Duncan, Oklahoma. He completed a bachelor’s in Music Education in 1951 and a master’s in Music the following year at the University of North Texas College of Music. After a stint at Mills College in 1955, he spent three years in graduate work at UC Berkeley before departing to teach at UC Davis. His instructors were Violet Archer, Darius Milhaud, and Andrew Imbrie.
Teaching career
Austin taught at the University of California, Davis from 1958 to 1972, rising from assistant professor to full professor and founding the improvisational New Music Ensemble. He moved to the University of South Florida in 1972, teaching there until 1978, then returned to his alma mater, the University of North Texas, from 1978 until 1996, when he was named professor emeritus. His notable students include William Basinski, Dary John Mizelle, and Rodney Waschka II.
Compositions
Austin's early recognition came from instrumental and orchestral works; Improvisations for Orchestra and Jazz Soloists was performed and recorded by the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein and televised on a Young People's Concert on March 11, 1964. He realized and completed Charles Ives's Universe Symphony (1974–93) for large orchestra, and composed Sinfonia Concertante: A Mozartean Episode (1986) for chamber orchestra and tape. Chamber works with computer music or electro-acoustic aspects include Accidents for electronically prepared piano (1967) for David Tudor, Canadian Coastlines: Canonic Fractals for Musicians and Computer Band (1981), and BluesAx for saxophonist and tape (1995), which won the Magisterium Prize at Bourges in 1996. Later work includes John Explains... (2007) for octophonic sound, based on a recording of an interview with John Cage, premiered at the 2008 North Carolina Computer Music Festival, and Suoni della Bellagio—Sounds and sights of Bellagio, July–August, 1998 for video and two-channel tape, premiered at the CEMI Circles festival in 2013. Critic Tom Johnson wrote that Austin's style is strongly personal and draws from Charles Ives. Austin stated that exploring new concepts, new materials, and their interaction is essential to his work.
Partial discography
Leonard Bernstein Conducts Music of Our Time (New York Philharmonic, Columbia Masterworks, MS6733, 1965) includes Improvisations for Orchestra and Jazz Soloists. Robert Floyd Plays New Piano Music by Hans Werner Henze and Larry Austin (Advance Records, FGR10S, 1970) features Piano Set in Open Style and Piano Variations. New Music for Woodwinds (Advance Records, FGR9S, 1974) was performed by Phil Rehfeldt and Thomas Warburton. Larry Austin Hybrid Musics: Four Compositions (IRIDA Records 0022, 1980) includes Maroon Bells, Catalogo Voce, Quadrants: Event/Complex No. 1, and Second Fantasy on Ives' Universe Symphony. Volume 1 of the CDCM Computer Music Series (Centaur Records, CRC 2029, 1988) contains Sinfonia Concertante and Sonata Concertante. Volume 10 (CRC 2110, 1991) includes Montage: Themes and Variations for Violin and Computer Music on Tape. Volume 11 (1993) includes La Barbara: The Name/The Sounds/The Music. A Chance Operation: The John Cage Tribute (Koch International Classics, KIC-CD-7238, 1993) includes art is self-alteration is Cage is... performed by Robert Black. Charles Ives's Universe Symphony, as realized and completed by Larry Austin (Centaur Records, CRC 2205, 1994) appears. Composers in the Computer Age II (CRC 2193, 1994) includes SoundPoemSet. Tárogató (Romeo Records, 7212, 2001) features Esther Lamneck. UNconventional Trumpet (Crystal Records, CD763, 2004) includes Charley's Cornet.
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