Joan La Barbara
Encyclopedia
Joan La Barbara is an American
vocalist and composer
associated with contemporary music. She is a former student of Helen Boatwright
. She has worked with her husband Morton Subotnick
since 1979, as well with other contemporary composers such as John Cage
, Robert Ashley
, Morton Feldman
, Philip Glass
, Larry Austin
, Peter Gordon, and the dancer Merce Cunningham
. She has also worked with Kenneth Goldsmith
. She composed the music for the Sesame Street animated film “Signing Alphabet,” for electronics and voice.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
vocalist and composer
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...
associated with contemporary music. She is a former student of Helen Boatwright
Helen Boatwright
Helen Boatwright was an American soprano who specialized in the performance of American song, recorded the first full-length album of songs by composer Charles Ives and had a career that spanned more than five decades....
. She has worked with her husband Morton Subotnick
Morton Subotnick
Morton Subotnick is an American composer of electronic music, best known for his Silver Apples of the Moon, the first electronic work commissioned by a record company, Nonesuch...
since 1979, as well with other contemporary composers such as 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...
, Robert Ashley
Robert Ashley
Robert Ashley , is a contemporary American composer, best known for his operas and other theatrical works, many of which incorporate electronics and extended techniques. Along with Gordon Mumma, Ashley was also a major pioneer of audio synthesis.Ashley was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan...
, Morton Feldman
Morton Feldman
Morton Feldman was an American composer, born in New York City.A major figure in 20th century music, Feldman was a pioneer of indeterminate music, a development associated with the experimental New York School of composers also including John Cage, Christian Wolff, and Earle Brown...
, Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
, Larry Austin
Larry Austin
Larry Austin is a United States composer noted for his electronic and computer music works. He was a co-founder and editor of the avant-garde music periodical Source: Music of the Avant Garde...
, Peter Gordon, and the dancer Merce Cunningham
Merce Cunningham
Mercier "Merce" Philip Cunningham was an American dancer and choreographer who was at the forefront of the American avant-garde for more than 50 years. Throughout much of his life, Cunningham was considered one of the greatest creative forces in American dance...
. She has also worked with Kenneth Goldsmith
Kenneth Goldsmith
Kenneth Goldsmith is an American poet. He is the founding editor of UbuWeb, teaches Poetics and Poetic Practice at the University of Pennsylvania and is Senior Editor of PennSound. He hosted a weekly radio show at WFMU from 1995 until June 2010...
. She composed the music for the Sesame Street animated film “Signing Alphabet,” for electronics and voice.
Selected works
- Voice Is the Original Instrument: Early Works (1976/2003). Wizard 2266/Lovely Music 3003.
- Sound Paintings
- Shamansong (New World Music)
- The Reluctant Gypsy (Wizard Records) RVW 2279
External links
- Joan La Barbara's Official Site
- Joan La Barbara's faculty page at NYU Steinhardt
- UbuWeb: Joan La Barbara featuring 73 Poems (1993), text by Kenneth Goldsmith
- NewMusicBox cover: Joan La Barbara in conversation with Molly Sheridan, January 30, 2006 (includes video) (plus a master class with Joan La Barbara)
- Joan La Barbara interview