Ellsworth Snyder
Encyclopedia
Ellsworth Snyder was an American abstract painter, professional pianist, conductor and scholar. He was known as a champion of avant-garde art and music and is associated with composer John Cage
and the Fluxus
art movement. He preferred that his name be spelled ellsworth snyder, using all lower-case letters.
art movement
developed out his formal training in classical music. A native of Springfield, Ohio, Snyder attended The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (now the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati) where he earned both his bachelor and master degrees. In 1960 Ellsworth Snyder accepted a position as music instructor at Newcomb College of Tulane University in New Orleans where he began an experimental new music series titled “You’ve never heard anything like it”. The programs ranged from the twelve-tone compositions of Schoenberg
to Fluxus
happenings. One of these happenings in 1960 consisted of a performer crushing a light bulb into a frying pan. Snyder developed a reputation for bringing to his avant-garde performances the same seriousness and sensitivity to tone, timing and clarity that he did to traditional classical music.
It was his interest in contemporary music that led to a decisive meeting with John Cage
in 1960. The two men became lifelong friends and professional colleagues. In 1964 Snyder moved to Madison, Wisconsin
where he wrote the first doctoral dissertation ever written on John Cage, for the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Snyder included compositions by Cage in the standard repertoire of music that he performed both in the United States and internationally including the album of new music that he recorded for Advance Records in 1974 and a recital that he gave at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall
in 1977. He also published two interviews with John Cage, one in 1985 and the other in 1990. In 1990 John Cage composed a piece for piano for Snyder called One5, for ellsworth, which Snyder premiered on an all-Cage program in Madison in 1991. Cage was in attendance for the performance, one year before his own death at age 80.
In addition to his career as a concert pianist, Ellsworth Snyder taught at Milton College
in Wisconsin in until it closed in 1981. His unconventional new music lectures of the late 1960’s drew large crowds. He wrote extensively about the Fluxus
movement and gave courses in piano pedagogy. Then in 1971 he took the position of music director at the First Unitarian Society of Madison, Wisconsin where he created a concert series that embraced both experimental and traditional music.
included Snyder’s work in the exhibition Rolywholyover at the Museum of Contemporary Art
, Los Angeles, CA. Additionally, Snyder’s art work has been exhibited in the Philadelphia Museum of Art
, the Walker Art Center
in Minneapolis, the Mito Museum in Tokyo
, the Menil Collection
in Houston, Texas
, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
, and the Elvehjem Museum of Art (now Chazen) in Madison, WI. His work is represented by Rosenthal Fine Art and Jennifer Norback Fine Art in Chicago, IL and Shiloh Gallery.
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
and the Fluxus
Fluxus
Fluxus—a name taken from a Latin word meaning "to flow"—is an international network of artists, composers and designers noted for blending different artistic media and disciplines in the 1960s. They have been active in Neo-Dada noise music and visual art as well as literature, urban planning,...
art movement. He preferred that his name be spelled ellsworth snyder, using all lower-case letters.
Snyder as pianist and music scholar
Snyder’s interest in the avant-gardeAvant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
art movement
Art movement
An art movement is a tendency or style in art with a specific common philosophy or goal, followed by a group of artists during a restricted period of time, or, at least, with the heyday of the movement defined within a number of years...
developed out his formal training in classical music. A native of Springfield, Ohio, Snyder attended The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (now the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati) where he earned both his bachelor and master degrees. In 1960 Ellsworth Snyder accepted a position as music instructor at Newcomb College of Tulane University in New Orleans where he began an experimental new music series titled “You’ve never heard anything like it”. The programs ranged from the twelve-tone compositions of Schoenberg
Schoenberg
Schoenberg is the surname of several persons:* Arnold Schoenberg , Austrian-American composer* Claude-Michel Schoenberg , French record producer, actor, singer, popular songwriter, and musical theatre composer...
to Fluxus
Fluxus
Fluxus—a name taken from a Latin word meaning "to flow"—is an international network of artists, composers and designers noted for blending different artistic media and disciplines in the 1960s. They have been active in Neo-Dada noise music and visual art as well as literature, urban planning,...
happenings. One of these happenings in 1960 consisted of a performer crushing a light bulb into a frying pan. Snyder developed a reputation for bringing to his avant-garde performances the same seriousness and sensitivity to tone, timing and clarity that he did to traditional classical music.
It was his interest in contemporary music that led to a decisive meeting with John Cage
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
in 1960. The two men became lifelong friends and professional colleagues. In 1964 Snyder moved to Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
where he wrote the first doctoral dissertation ever written on John Cage, for the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Snyder included compositions by Cage in the standard repertoire of music that he performed both in the United States and internationally including the album of new music that he recorded for Advance Records in 1974 and a recital that he gave at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall
Alice Tully Hall
Alice Tully Hall is a concert hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. It is named for Alice Tully, a New York performer and philanthropist whose donations assisted in the construction of the hall...
in 1977. He also published two interviews with John Cage, one in 1985 and the other in 1990. In 1990 John Cage composed a piece for piano for Snyder called One5, for ellsworth, which Snyder premiered on an all-Cage program in Madison in 1991. Cage was in attendance for the performance, one year before his own death at age 80.
In addition to his career as a concert pianist, Ellsworth Snyder taught at Milton College
Milton College
Milton College was a private college located in Milton, Wisconsin. Founded in 1844 as the Milton Academy, it closed in 1982. Its campus is now part of the Milton Historic District....
in Wisconsin in until it closed in 1981. His unconventional new music lectures of the late 1960’s drew large crowds. He wrote extensively about the Fluxus
Fluxus
Fluxus—a name taken from a Latin word meaning "to flow"—is an international network of artists, composers and designers noted for blending different artistic media and disciplines in the 1960s. They have been active in Neo-Dada noise music and visual art as well as literature, urban planning,...
movement and gave courses in piano pedagogy. Then in 1971 he took the position of music director at the First Unitarian Society of Madison, Wisconsin where he created a concert series that embraced both experimental and traditional music.
Snyder as visual artist
In 1978 at Cage’s prompting Snyder began painting. He developed a distinctive style as an abstractionist that was spare and yet employed the use of expressive gestures. John CageJohn Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
included Snyder’s work in the exhibition Rolywholyover at the Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles is a contemporary art museum with three locations in greater Los Angeles, California. The main branch is located on Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, near Walt Disney Concert Hall...
, Los Angeles, CA. Additionally, Snyder’s art work has been exhibited in the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest art museums in the United States. It is located at the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. The Museum was established in 1876 in conjunction with the Centennial Exposition of the same year...
, the Walker Art Center
Walker Art Center
The Walker Art Center is a contemporary art center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The Walker is considered one of the nation's "big five" museums for modern art along with the Museum of Modern Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum and the Hirshhorn...
in Minneapolis, the Mito Museum in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, the Menil Collection
Menil Collection
The Menil Collection, located in Houston refers either to a museum that houses the private art collection of founders John de Menil and Dominique de Menil, or to the collection itself...
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art — MMoCA, formerly known as the Madison Art Center, is an art museum located in Madison, Wisconsin. A three-story glass facade "icon" on the corner of State and Henry Streets serves as the museum's main staircase, as well as its architectural...
, and the Elvehjem Museum of Art (now Chazen) in Madison, WI. His work is represented by Rosenthal Fine Art and Jennifer Norback Fine Art in Chicago, IL and Shiloh Gallery.