Morton Subotnick (1933- )
Morton
Subotnick is one of the United States' premier composers of electronic
music and an innovator in works involving instruments and other media,
including interactive computer music systems. Most of his music calls
for a computer part or live electronic processing; his oeuvre utilizes
many of the important technological breakthroughs in the history of the
genre. The work which brought Subotnick celebrity was Silver Apples of
the Moon. Written in 1967 using the Buchla modular synthesizer (an
electronic instrument built by Donald Buchla utilizing suggestions from
Subotnick and Ramon Sender), this work contains synthesized tone colors
striking for its day and a control over pitch that many other
contemporary electronic composers had relinquished. Commissioned by
Nonesuch Records and written in two parts to correspond to the two
sides of an LP, Silver Apples marked the first time an original
large-scale composition had been created specifically for the disc
medium. The record was an American bestseller in the classical music
category, an extremely unusual occurrence for any contemporary concert
music at the time. The next eight years saw the production of several
more important compositions for LP, realized on the Buchla synthesizer:
The Wild Bull (1967), Sidewinder (1970) and Four Butterflies (1971). In
the late 1970s, Subotnick developed the "ghost" box, an electronic
device consisting of a pitch and envelope follower for a live signal,
an amplifier, a frequency shifter and a ring modulator, which allowed
sophisticated control over real-time electronic processing of a live
performance. Two Life Histories (1977) was the first piece involving an
electronic "ghost" score; the bulk of Subotnick's output for the next
six years was devoted to compositions involving performers and ghost
scores. Some of the more notable works in the series include Liquid
Strata (1977) for piano, Parallel Lines (1978) for piccolo accompanied by nine
players and The Wild Beasts (1978) for trombone and piano.
Subotnick reached the apex of live electronic processing in his
work Ascent Into Air (1981), written for the powerful 4C computer at
IRCAM. In this work, live performers control the computer music - the
reverse situation of the "ghost" score compositions. Subotnick's recent
works utilize computerized sound generation, specially designed
software Interactor and "intelligent" computer controls which allow the
performers to interact with the computer technology. In addition to
music in the electronic medium, Subotnick has written for symphony
orchestra, chamber ensembles, theater and multimedia productions. Currently, Subotnick co-directs both the composition
program and the Center for Experiments in Art, Information and
Technology (CEAIT) at the California Institute of the Arts.- American Composers Orchestra
COMPOSITIONS Subotnick Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ Subotnick on Subotnick
Viola Sonata (1958, unfinished)
Sonata for Viola and Piano (pub. ???? by McGinnis & Marx)
Mandolin, viola, tape and 16mm film (1961-63)
Ten, fl, ob, tpt, trom, perc (3), pf, va and db (1963; rev. 1976)
Play! No. 1, woodwind quintet, piano, tape and film by Tony Martin (1964)
Serenade, flute, clarinet, vibraphone, mandolin, cello and piano (pub. 1964)
Serenade No. 2, clarinet, horn, piano and inside piano (perc) (1964?)
Prelude No. 3, piano and electronic sounds (1964)
Play! No. 2, orchestra, conductor and two-track tape (1965)
Play! No. 3, pianist/mime, tape, and 16mm film by Tony Martin (1965)
Play! No. 4, soprano, vibraphone, cello, 4 "game players", 2 "game conductors" and two 16mm films by Tony Martin (1965)
Serenade No. 3, flute, clarinet, violin, piano and tape (1965)
The Tarot Play IV, 10 instruments and 2-track tape (1965) [multiple projection score and film by Tony Martin]
Prelude no. 4, piano and electronic sounds (1966)
Music for the Caucasian Chalk Circle, incidental music (1966)
Silver Apples of the Moon, electronic work (1967) [commissioned by Nonesuch Records]
The Wild Bull, electronic work (1968) [commissioned by Nonesuch Records]
Touch, electronic work (1969) [commissioned by Columbia Records]
Lamination 1, orchestra and electronic sounds (pub. 1970)
Sidewinder, electronic work (1971) [commissioned by Columbia Records]
Four Butterflies, electronic work (1973) [commissioned by Columbia Records]
Two Butterflies, amplified orchestra (1974)
Before the Butterfly, orchestra and 7 amplified instrumental soloists (tpt, trom, perc, harp, vln, va, vc) (1975)
Until Spring, electronic work (1975) [commissioned by Columbia Records]
Liquid Strata, pano and electronic ghost score (1977)
Two Life Histories, clarinet, male voice and an electronic ghost Score (1977) [text: Greek mythology and Old Testament]
The Wild Beasts, trombone, piano and electronic ghost score (1978)
Parallel Lines, piccolo, electronic ghost score, and 9 players (ob/EH, cl/bass cl, tpt,trom, harp, perc (2), va and vc (1978)
Passages of the Beast, clarinet and electronic ghost score (1978)
A Sky of Cloudless Sulphur, electronic work (1978) [commissioned by the J.B. Lansing Speaker Company]
Place, orchestra, timpani, percussion, harp, celeste, mandolin (1979)
After the Butterfly, trumpet, electronic ghost score, and 7 players (2 cl, 2 trom, 2 vc and perc) (1979)
The Last Dream of the Beast, soprano, cello section, tape & ghost electronics (1979) [aria from "The Double Life of Amphibians"]
The First Dream of Light, tuba and electronic ghost score (1980)
A Fluttering of Wings, string quartet with/or without an electronic ghost score (1981)
Ascent Into Air, chamber ensemble (2 vc, vl, bass cl, trom, bass trom, 4 perc, 2 pfs) and computer (1981)
Axolotl, solo cello, electronic ghost score and chamber orchestra (1982) [also for solo cello and ghost score]
An Arsenal of Defense, viola and electronic ghost score (1982)
Trembling , violin, piano, tape and electronic ghost score (1983)
The Double Life of Amphibians, 2 male singers, 1 female singer, dancer, chamber orchestra and electronics (1984)
Return, electronic work (1984) [commissioned in honor of Halley's Comet]
The Key to Songs, 2 pianos, 2 percs (mallet insts), va, vc and electronic sounds (1985) [all instruments amplified]
Hungers, keyboard, mallets, cello, voice, female Balanese dancer, video, lights and computer (1986)
Jacob's Room, chamber opera (1986)
In Two Worlds (Saxophone Concerto), Yamaha WX7 Computerized Wind Controller + alto sax, chbr orch and computer (1987)
And the Butterflies Begin to Sing, chamber ensemble (2 vln, va, vc, db, MIDI keyboard) and computer (1988)
A Desert Flowers, orchestra and computer (1989)
All My Hummingbirds Have Alibis, chamber ensemble (fl, vc, MIDI keyboard, MIDI mallvets) and computer (1991)
Intimate Immensity, a media poem, 2 disclaviers, 2 singers, Balinese dancer and interactively controlled laserdiscs,
computer sound and lights (1997)
Echoes from the Silent Call of Girona, string quartet and CD-ROM (1998)
Gestures: It Starts With Colors, electronic work (1999-2000)
Release, violin, clarinet, cello, piano, and surround sound electronics (2003)
The Other Piano (2007)
- v.1, solo piano
- v.2, piano and live DSP
Breath, voice and electronics (2007)
Until Spring Revisited, electronic work (2007)
v.1, for computer alone
v.2, for computer and live video
Then and Now and Forever, clarinet, violin, and piano (2008)
WORKS BY GENRE Subotnick Links ~ ~ ~ Subotnick on Subotnick ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Play! No. 3, pianist/mime, tape, and 16mm film by Tony Martin (1965)
Play! No. 4, soprano, vibraphone, cello, 4 "game players", 2 "game conductors" and two 16mm films by Tony Martin (1965)
The Double Life of Amphibians, 2 male singers, 1 female singer, dancer, chamber orchestra and electronics (1984)
Hungers, keyboard, mallets, cello, voice, female Balanese dancer, video, lights and computer (1986)
Jacob's Room, chamber opera (1986)
Intimate Immensity, a media poem, 2 disclaviers, 2 singers, Balinese dancer and interactively controlled laserdiscs,
computer sound and lights (1997)
Orchestra
Play! No. 2, orchestra, conductor and two-track tape (1965)
Lamination 1, orchestra and electronic sounds (pub. 1970)
Two Butterflies, amplified orchestra (1974)
Place, orchestra, timpani, percussion, harp, celeste, mandolin (1979)
A Desert Flowers, orchestra and computer (1989)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Before the Butterfly, orchestra and 7 amplified instrumental soloists (tpt, trom, perc, harp, vln, va, vc) (1975)
Axolotl, solo cello, electronic ghost score and chamber orchestra (1982) [also for solo cello and ghost score]
In Two Worlds (Saxophone Concerto), Yamaha WX7 Computerized Wind Controller + alto sax, chbr orch and computer (1987)
Chamber
Ten, fl, ob, tpt, trom, perc (3), pf, va and db (1963; rev. 1976)
Play! No. 1, woodwind quintet, piano, tape and film by Tony Martin (1964)
Serenade, flute, clarinet, vibraphone, mandolin, cello and piano (pub. 1964)
Serenade No. 2, clarinet, horn, piano and inside piano (perc) (1964?)
Serenade No. 3, flute, clarinet, violin, piano and tape (1965)
The Tarot Play IV, 10 instruments and 2-track tape (1965) [multiple projection score and film by Tony Martin]
The Wild Beasts, trombone, piano and electronic ghost score (1978)
Parallel Lines, piccolo, electronic ghost score, and 9 players (ob/EH, cl/bass cl, tpt,trom, harp, perc (2), va and vc (1978)
After the Butterfly, trumpet, electronic ghost score, and 7 players (2 cl, 2 trom, 2 vc and perc) (1979)
A Fluttering of Wings, string quartet with/or without an electronic ghost score (1981)
Ascent Into Air, chamber ensemble (2 vc, vl, bass cl, trom, bass trom, 4 perc, 2 pfs) and computer (1981)
Trembling , violin, piano, tape and electronic ghost score (1983)
The Key to Songs, 2 pianos, 2 percs (mallet insts), va, vc and electronic sounds (1985) [all instruments amplified]
And the Butterflies Begin to Sing, chamber ensemble (2 vln, va, vc, db, MIDI keyboard) and computer (1988)
All My Hummingbirds Have Alibis, chamber ensemble (fl, vc, MIDI keyboard, MIDI mallvets) and computer (1991)
Echoes from the Silent Call of Girona, string quartet and CD-ROM (1998)
Release, violin, clarinet, cello, piano, and surround sound electronics (2003)
Then and Now and Forever, clarinet, violin, and piano (2008)
Solo Instrument
Viola Sonata (1958, unfinished)
Sonata for Viola and Piano (pub. ???? by McGinnis & Marx)
Mandolin, viola, tape and 16mm film (1961-63)
Passages of the Beast, clarinet and electronic ghost score (1978)
The First Dream of Light, tuba and electronic ghost score (1980)
An Arsenal of Defense, viola and electronic ghost score (1982)
Axolotl, cello and electronic ghost score (1982) [also for solo cello, electronic ghost score and chamber orchestra]
Piano
Prelude No. 3, piano and electronic sounds (1964)
Play! No. 3, pianist/mime, tape, and 16mm film by Tony Martin (1965)
Prelude no. 4, piano and electronic sounds (1966)
Liquid Strata, pano and electronic ghost score (1977)
The Other Piano (2007)
- v.1, solo piano
- v.2, piano and live DSP
Vocal
Play! No. 4, soprano, vibraphone, cello, 4 "game players", 2 "game conductors" and two 16mm films by Tony Martin (1965)
Two Life Histories, clarinet, male voice and an electronic ghost Score (1977) [text: Greek mythology and Old Testament]
The Last Dream of the Beast, soprano, cello section, tape & ghost electronics (1979) [aria from "The Double Life of Amphibians"]
The Double Life of Amphibians, 2 male singers, 1 female singer, dancer, chamber orchestra and electronics (1984)
Hungers, keyboard, mallets, cello, voice, female Balanese dancer, video, lights and computer (1986)
Breath, voice and electronics (2007)
Incidental Music
Music for the Caucasian Chalk Circle, incidental music (1966)
Electronic Works
Silver Apples of the Moon, electronic work (1967) [commissioned by Nonesuch Records]
The Wild Bull, electronic work (1968) [commissioned by Nonesuch Records]
Touch, electronic work (1969) [commissioned by Columbia Records]
Sidewinder, electronic work (1971) [commissioned by Columbia Records]
Four Butterflies, electronic work (1973) [commissioned by Columbia Records ]
Until Spring, electronic work (1975) [commissioned by Columbia Records]
A Sky of Cloudless Sulphur, electronic work (1978) [commissioned by the J.B. Lansing Speaker Company]
Return, electronic work (1984) [commissioned in honor of Halley's Comet]
Gestures: It Starts With Colors, electronic work (1999-2000)
Until Spring Revisited, electronic work (2007)
v.1, for computer alone
v.2, for computer and live video
Multimedia Works
Mandolin, viola, tape and 16mm film (1961-63)
Play! No. 1, woodwind quintet, piano, tape and film by Tony Martin (1964)
Play! No. 3, pianist/mime, tape, and 16mm film by Tony Martin (1965)
Play! No. 4, soprano, vibraphone, cello, 4 "game players", 2 "game conductors" and two 16mm films by Tony Martin (1965)
The Tarot Play IV, 10 instruments and 2-track tape (1965) [multiple projection score and film by Tony Martin]
The Double Life of Amphibians, 2 male singers, 1 female singer, dancer, chamber orchestra and electronics (1984)
Hungers, keyboard, mallets, cello, voice, female Balanese dancer, video, lights and computer (1986)
Intimate Immensity, a media poem, 2 disclaviers, 2 singers, Balinese dancer and interactively controlled laserdiscs,
computer sound and lights (1997)
CD-ROMs
Making Music: a children's composing program [for ages 3-7]
Hearing Music: a children's composing program [for ages 7-12]
Playing Music: a children's composing program [for ages 7-12]
Making More Music: a children's composing program [for ages 8+]
SUBOTNICK LINKS Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ Subotnick on Subotnick ~ top of page ~
Electronic Music As Sound Sculpture (Morton Subotnick, sfsound.org)
Electronic Music Pioneer and Composer Morton Subotnick Gets Respect (Bill Murphy, emusician/Remix)
15 Questions to Morton Subotnick (Tobias, Tokafi.com)
In C Interviews: Morton Subotnick (Kronos Quartet, Facebook)
Morton Subotnick: Composer as Educator from "Don't Quit Your Day Job" (Kenneth Goldsmith, WFMU)
Morton Subotnick Interview with Woody & Steina & D. Dunn, 2/25/92 (vasulka.org)
Morton Subotnick - The Composer On Parades & Changes, Replay (Time Out New York)
Morton Subotnick on the Creation and Legacy of Silver Apples of the Moon (Etan Rosenbloom, ASCAP)
Composer's website . . . contact Morton Subotnick: composer's website
Subotnick @ Wikipedia
Subotnick @ American Academy in Berlin
Subotnick @ American Composers Orchestra
Subotnick @ ANABlog also here
Subotnick @ Answers.com
Subotnick @ Art of the States
Subotnick @ Avant Garde Project
Subotnick @ Classical Archives
Subotnick @ Classical Composers Database
Subotnick @ Classical Net
Subotnick @ Dilettante Music
Subotnick @ Dr. Estrella's Incredibly Abridged Dictionary of Composers
Subotnick @ Facebook
Subotnick @ Facebook (2)
Subotnick @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Subotnick @ InstantEncore
Subotnick @ International New Music Consortium
Subotnick @ LinkedIn
Subotnick @ Mode Records
Subotnick @ MSN Music
Subotnick @ MusicWeb International
Subotnick @ New Albion Records
Subotnick @ The New York Times
Subotnick @ NNDB
Subotnick @ NYU/Steinhardt
Subotnick @ Other Minds
Subotnick @ The Planetary Society
Subotnick @ Piero Scaruffi
Subotnick @ Schott Music
Subotnick @ sfsound
Subotnick @ Sonoloco
Subotnick @ Morton Subotnick's Creating Music (Music Software)
Subotnick @ synthtopia.com
Publisher
Subotnick @ Composer's website
Subotnick @ European American Music
Subotnick @ MCA Music
Subotnick @ McGinnis & Marx
Subotnick @ Theodore Presser
Subotnick @ Schott Music
Streaming Audio
Subotnick @ Composer's website
Subotnick @ Art of the States
Subotnick @ Avant Garde Project
Subotnick @ Classical Archives
Subotnick @ Free Music Archive/Interview - Live at DubLab
Subotnick @ last.fm
Subotnick @ Rhapsody
Recordings
Subotnick @ ArkivMusic
Subotnick @ ClassicsOnline
Subotnick @ Discogs
Subotnick @ Mode Records
Subotnick @ New Albion Records
Video
Subotnick @ YouTube
Subotnick @ Google Video
Subotnick @ Vimeo
~ top of page ~
Subotnick on Subotnick: A Pioneer of Electronic Music/Künstlereingang (VIDEO)
Subotnick on Subotnickr: Interview @ NAMM (VIDEO)
Composers
Speak on the Web at Pytheas~ click on composer picture to listen ~
Subotnick on Subotnick: Interview - Live at DubLab (streaming audio)
Composers
Speak on the Web at Pytheas~ click on composer picture to listen ~
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