Glenn Branca: World Premiere of Symphony No.15
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About
Glenn Branca is a symphonist. In the last 27 years he has composed 13
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)
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 pieces 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 (it has also recently been performed at the ATP Festival) 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. He is also the inventor of the Harmonics Guitar and a founding member of 70's No Wave bands Theoretical Girls and The Static.
In 2008 he began work on "Symphony No. 14 (The Harmonic Series)" a new piece for orchestra, the first movement of which has been commissioned by The St. Louis Symphony and was premiered on Nov. 13, 2008 conducted by David Robertson.
Photos and recap from The Glenn Branca Ensemble's 9/11 show at LPR (via Brooklyn Vegan)
Artist Website
He has also composed many shorter pieces 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 (it has also recently been performed at the ATP Festival) 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. He is also the inventor of the Harmonics Guitar and a founding member of 70's No Wave bands Theoretical Girls and The Static.
In 2008 he began work on "Symphony No. 14 (The Harmonic Series)" a new piece for orchestra, the first movement of which has been commissioned by The St. Louis Symphony and was premiered on Nov. 13, 2008 conducted by David Robertson.
Photos and recap from The Glenn Branca Ensemble's 9/11 show at LPR (via Brooklyn Vegan)