Tyondai Braxton
Encyclopedia
Tyondai Braxton is an American
composer
and performer, largely known as the former guitarist/singer of Battles
, and as a prominently featured artist on record label Warp Records
. He has been actively producing and performing music under his name as a solo artist, as well as collaboratively under various group titles and collectives, since the mid-90s.
Raised in Connecticut
and Northern California
, Braxton is the son of multi-instrumentalist and avant-garde
composer and improviser Anthony Braxton
. He later studied composition
at The Hartt School of the University of Hartford
in West Hartford, Connecticut
with Robert Carl
, Ingram Marshall
and Ken Steen. His "orchestrated loops" involve real-time overlaying of guitar
, voice
and found objects, designed to simulate an ensemble
.
Most recently, Braxton’s newest work titled Central Market, was released by Warp Records
in September 2009 worldwide; the album showcases Braxton's orchestral music, while maintaining qualities of loop composition he is known for. Collaboratively, Braxton has also worked with such artists as Prefuse73 and Glenn Branca
, and has been commissioned by the Kronos Quartet
and Bang on a Can
, amongst others. In 2011, he performed selections of Central Market in New York City, Washington D.C and Minneapolis with the 30-piece Wordless Music Orchestra and in London with the BBC Symphony Orchestra as a part of Steve Reich
's Reverberations Festival.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
and performer, largely known as the former guitarist/singer of Battles
Battles (band)
Battles is an American experimental rock group, founded in 2002 in New York City, comprising guitarists Ian Williams and Dave Konopka , and drummer John Stanier .-Biography:...
, and as a prominently featured artist on record label Warp Records
Warp Records
Warp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
. He has been actively producing and performing music under his name as a solo artist, as well as collaboratively under various group titles and collectives, since the mid-90s.
Raised in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
, Braxton is the son of multi-instrumentalist and avant-garde
Avant-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....
composer and improviser Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton
Anthony Braxton is an American composer, saxophonist, clarinettist, flautist, pianist, and philosopher. Braxton has released well over 100 albums since the 1960s...
. He later studied composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
at The Hartt School of the University of Hartford
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
in West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....
with Robert Carl
Robert Carl
Robert Carl is an American composer who currently resides in Hartford, Connecticut, where he is chair of the composition department at the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford.-Music:...
, Ingram Marshall
Ingram Marshall
Ingram Marshall is an American composer and a former student of Vladimir Ussachevsky and Morton Subotnick. Son of Bernice Douglas and Harry Reinhard Marshall, Sr. He was a talented soprano in the Boy's Choir at the Mt. Vernon Community Church, and was influenced early by noted music instructor,...
and Ken Steen. His "orchestrated loops" involve real-time overlaying of guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, voice
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
and found objects, designed to simulate an ensemble
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
.
Most recently, Braxton’s newest work titled Central Market, was released by Warp Records
Warp Records
Warp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
in September 2009 worldwide; the album showcases Braxton's orchestral music, while maintaining qualities of loop composition he is known for. Collaboratively, Braxton has also worked with such artists as Prefuse73 and Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca is an American avant-garde composer and guitarist known for his use of volume, alternative guitar tunings, repetition, droning, and the harmonic series. In 2008 he was awarded an unrestricted grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts.-Beginnings: 1960s and early 1970s:Branca...
, and has been commissioned by the Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet is a string quartet founded by violinist David Harrington in 1973 in Seattle, Washington. Since 1978, the quartet has been based in San Francisco, California. The longest-running combination of performers had Harrington and John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and Joan...
and Bang on a Can
Bang on a Can
Bang on a Can is a multi-faceted classical music organization based in New York City. It was founded in 1987 by three American composers who remain its artistic directors: Julia Wolfe, David Lang, and Michael Gordon...
, amongst others. In 2011, he performed selections of Central Market in New York City, Washington D.C and Minneapolis with the 30-piece Wordless Music Orchestra and in London with the BBC Symphony Orchestra as a part of Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
's Reverberations Festival.
Solo
- 11.7.97 Live at the Wesleyan University Campus Center (1998), Newsonic – with Jonathan Zorn
- The Grow Gauge (1999), Loopchoir
- Death Slug 2000 http://braxtonmatis.bandcamp.com/album/death-slug-2000 (2000) – with Jonathan Matis http://jonathanmatis.alkem.org
- History That Has No Effect (2002), JMZ
- Rise, Rise, Rise (2003), Narnack – split LP with Parts & LaborParts & LaborParts & Labor is an American experimental rock/noise rock band. The group was formed in 2002 by B.J. Warshaw and Dan Friel in Brooklyn, NY. Drummer Joe Wong joined the band in 2007. Parts & Labor has released five albums, two EPs, one split album , and numerous 7"s and compilation tracks...
- Central Market (2009), WarpWarp RecordsWarp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
With Battles
- EP CEP CEP C is the first EP from the American math rock band Battles. It was released on Monitor Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:* Dave Konopka – Bass, Guitar, Effects* John Stanier – Drums* Ian Williams – Guitar, Keyboards...
(2004), MonitorMonitor RecordsMonitor Records is a Hong Kong-based music shop selling various rare and alternative CDs and music items. Monitor Records is also a distributor of Hong Kong indie bands and independent musicians such as the Pancake, Elf Fatima and Alok... - B EPB EPB EP is an EP by the American math rock band Battles. It was the group's third release in three months and has been called "another sketchbook revealing where the group could end up in the future." -Track listing:-Personnel:...
(2004), Dim MakDim Mak RecordsDim Mak Records is a record label founded in 1996 by Steve Aoki and based in Los Angeles, CA. Dim Mak's first release was a 7" by a little known hardcore band from southern California, Stickfigurecarousel.-Roster:Active* Steve Aoki* All Leather... - Mirrored (2007), WarpWarp RecordsWarp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
External links
- Temp Hides Fun, Fulfilling Life From Rest Of Office Satirical Onion piece, featuring Ty as an intern