David Johnson (musician)
Encyclopedia
David C. Johnson is an American composer
, flautist
, and performer of live-electronic music
.
David Johnson studied, among other places, at Harvard University (M.A. in composition 1964), with Nadia Boulanger
in Paris
, and at the Cologne
Courses for New Music in 1964–1965, 1965–1966, and 1966–1967 (Stockhausen 1971,198–204)).
In 1966-67 he was an independent collaborator at the Electronic Studio of the WDR
, where he assisted Karlheinz Stockhausen
with the production of his electronic work Hymnen
. He also operated the live-electronics in the first performances of the chamber-orchestra version of Stockhausen’s Mixtur
(1967), and in the Darmstadt collaborative works directed by Stockhausen, Ensemble in 1967 and Musik für ein Haus in 1968 (Gehlhaar 1968, 39; Ritzel 1970, 50; Stockhausen 1971, 213 and 217).
In 1968 he was also instructor of electronic music at the Cologne Courses for New Music (Stockhausen 1971, 206). From its formation in Cologne in 1968, he collaborated with the group formed by bass guitarist Holger Schüring (later known as Holger Czukay
), keyboardist Irmin Schmidt
, guitarist Michael Karoli
and drummer Jaki Liebezeit
in an experimental beat group that would later be known as Can
. He left in 1969, disappointed at growing rock influences.
In 1970 he performed in a number of Stockhausen’s “process” works (Spiral
, Pole, Expo) at the German Pavilion of Expo 70, the Osaka
World’s Fair (Kurtz 1992, 178; Stockhausen 1971, 175–81). After Osaka, together with Johannes Fritsch
and Rolf Gehlhaar
, he founded in 1971 the Feedback Studio in Cologne and became a technical collaborator in the Studio for Electronic Music of the Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht
.
Also in 1971, Johnson joined the Oeldorf Group, a musicians' cooperative, with Peter Eötvös
, Mesías Maiguashca
, Gaby Schumacher (cello) and Joachim Krist (viola), who organized a Summer Night Music series that continued through 1975. Performances were held in the barn attached to the group's farmhouse in Oeldorf, near Kürten
(Kurtz 1992, 200).
In 1972, with Helmut Lachenmann
, he coordinated the Composition Studio at the International Vacation Course for New Music in Darmstadt
. He remained Technical Director of the Feedback Studio until 1975, when he moved to Basel
to become Director of the Electronic Studio of the Musikakademie there, a post he held until 1985. He now lives in Switzerland.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
, and performer of live-electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
.
David Johnson studied, among other places, at Harvard University (M.A. in composition 1964), with Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor and teacher who taught many composers and performers of the 20th century.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, but believing that her talent as a composer was inferior to that of her younger...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and at the Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
Courses for New Music in 1964–1965, 1965–1966, and 1966–1967 (Stockhausen 1971,198–204)).
In 1966-67 he was an independent collaborator at the Electronic Studio of the WDR
Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Westdeutscher Rundfunk is a German public-broadcasting institution based in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia with its main office in Cologne. WDR is a constituent member of the consortium of German public-broadcasting institutions, ARD...
, where he assisted Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen was a German composer, widely acknowledged by critics as one of the most important but also controversial composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Another critic calls him "one of the great visionaries of 20th-century music"...
with the production of his electronic work Hymnen
Hymnen
Hymnen is an electronic and concrete work, with optional live performers, by Karlheinz Stockhausen, composed in 1966–67, and elaborated in 1969. In the composer's catalog of works, it is "Nr. 22".-Musical form and content:...
. He also operated the live-electronics in the first performances of the chamber-orchestra version of Stockhausen’s Mixtur
Mixtur
Mixtur, for orchestra, 4 sine-wave generators, and 4 ring modulators, is an orchestral composition by the German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, written in 1964, and is Nr. 16 in his catalogue of works...
(1967), and in the Darmstadt collaborative works directed by Stockhausen, Ensemble in 1967 and Musik für ein Haus in 1968 (Gehlhaar 1968, 39; Ritzel 1970, 50; Stockhausen 1971, 213 and 217).
In 1968 he was also instructor of electronic music at the Cologne Courses for New Music (Stockhausen 1971, 206). From its formation in Cologne in 1968, he collaborated with the group formed by bass guitarist Holger Schüring (later known as Holger Czukay
Holger Czukay
Holger Czukay is a German musician, probably best known as a co-founder of the krautrock group Can. Described by critic Jason Ankeny as "successfully bridg[ing] the gap between pop and the avant-garde," Czukay is also notable for creating early important examples of ambient music, for exploring...
), keyboardist Irmin Schmidt
Irmin Schmidt
Irmin Schmidt is a German keyboard player and composer, probably best known as a founding member of the band Can.-Biography:...
, guitarist Michael Karoli
Michael Karoli
Michael Karoli was a German guitarist, violinist and composer. He was a founding member of the influential krautrock band Can....
and drummer Jaki Liebezeit
Jaki Liebezeit
Jaki Liebezeit is a drummer probably best known as a founding member of Can who has been called "one of the few drummers to convincingly meld the funky and the cerebral"....
in an experimental beat group that would later be known as Can
Can (band)
Can was an experimental rock band formed in Cologne, West Germany in 1968. Later labeled as one of the first "krautrock" groups, they transcended mainstream influences and incorporated strong minimalist and world music elements into their often psychedelic music.Can constructed their music largely...
. He left in 1969, disappointed at growing rock influences.
In 1970 he performed in a number of Stockhausen’s “process” works (Spiral
Spiral (Stockhausen)
Spiral , for a soloist with a shortwave receiver, is a composition by Karlheinz Stockhausen, written in 1968. It is Number 27 in the catalogue of the composer’s works.-Conception:...
, Pole, Expo) at the German Pavilion of Expo 70, the Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
World’s Fair (Kurtz 1992, 178; Stockhausen 1971, 175–81). After Osaka, together with Johannes Fritsch
Johannes Fritsch
Johannes G. Fritsch was a German composer.At the age of seven, Fritsch found a violin in the attic of his uncle's house in Bensheim-Auerbach, Germany, and began lessons with a village music teacher named Knapp...
and Rolf Gehlhaar
Rolf Gehlhaar
Rolf Gehlhaar in Breslau , is an American composer.Gehlhaar is the son of a German rocket scientist, who emigrated to the United States in 1953 to work at a rocket-development research centre in New Mexico...
, he founded in 1971 the Feedback Studio in Cologne and became a technical collaborator in the Studio for Electronic Music of the Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
.
Also in 1971, Johnson joined the Oeldorf Group, a musicians' cooperative, with Peter Eötvös
Peter Eötvös
Péter Eötvös is a Hungarian composer and conductor.Eötvös was born in Odorheiu Secuiesc/Székelyudvarhely, Szeklerland, Transylvania . He studied composition in Budapest and Cologne. From 1962, he composed for film in Hungary. Eötvös played regularly with the Stockhausen Ensemble between 1968 and...
, Mesías Maiguashca
Mesías Maiguashca
Mesías Maiguashca , is an Ecuadorian composer, an advocate of the new music, especially electroacoustic music.-Biography:...
, Gaby Schumacher (cello) and Joachim Krist (viola), who organized a Summer Night Music series that continued through 1975. Performances were held in the barn attached to the group's farmhouse in Oeldorf, near Kürten
Kürten
Kürten is a village and a municipality in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Neighbouring places:Nearby cities include Bergisch Gladbach, Overath, Wermelskirchen, and Wipperfürth...
(Kurtz 1992, 200).
In 1972, with Helmut Lachenmann
Helmut Lachenmann
Helmut Lachenmann is a German composer associated with musique concrète instrumentale.-Life and works:...
, he coordinated the Composition Studio at the International Vacation Course for New Music in Darmstadt
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
. He remained Technical Director of the Feedback Studio until 1975, when he moved to Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
to become Director of the Electronic Studio of the Musikakademie there, a post he held until 1985. He now lives in Switzerland.
Compositions
- Three Pieces for string quartet (1966)
- Dort wo wir leben, electronic music for the documentary film by Kazimierz Karabasz (1967)
- TeleFun, electronic music (1968)
- Ton-Antiton, electronic music (1968)
- Prorganica, sound installation (1970)
- Organica I–IV, sound installations (1970–72)
- Triangles, for flute, clarinet, cello, and 3 ring modulators (1975)
- Ars Subtilior Electrica , electronic music, realised in the Electronic Studio of the Musikakademie Basel (1977)
- Drop Fruit, for tape, live-electronics, slides and accompanying events (1984)
- Of burning a candle, for tape and slides (1985)
- Imprisoned Fruit, Cybernetic Soundspace (1989/90)
- Earth Wisdom, for tape, live-electronics and slides (1990)
Sources
- Gehlhaar, Rolf. 1968. Zur Komposition Ensemble: Kompositionsstudio Karlheinz Stockhausen, Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik, Darmstadt 1967. Darmstädter Beiträge zur Neuen Musik 11. Edited by Ernst Thomas. Mainz: B. Schott’s Söhne. Text in both German and English.
- Kurtz, Michael. 1992. Stockhausen: A Biography. Translated by Richard Toop. London: Faber and Faber.
- Johnson, David. 1972. "Die Organica Geschichte." Feedback papers 7. Reprinted in Feedback Papers 1–16, pp. 168–77.
- Morawska-Büngeler, Marietta. 1988. Schwingende Elektronen: Eine Dokumentation über das Studio für Elektronische Musik des Westdeutschen Rundfunk in Köln 1951–1986. Cologne-Rodenkirchen: P. J. Tonger Musikverlag.
- Ritzel, Fred. 1970. Musik für ein Haus: Kompositionsstudio Karlheinz Stockhausen, Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik, Darmstadt 1968. Darmstädter Beiträge zur Neuen Musik 12. Edited by Ernst Thomas. Mainz: B. Schott’s Söhne.
- Stockhausen, Karlheinz. 1971. Texte zur Musik 3 (1963–1970). Edited by Dieter Schnebel. Cologne: Verlag M. DuMont Schauberg.