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Vladimir Ussachevsky (1911-1990)

Vladimir Ussachevsky, composerA leading catalyst behind the rise of American electronic music, composer Vladimir Ussachevsky was born in Hailar, Manchuria; he emigrated to the U.S. in 1930, and after graduating from Pomona College went on to study at the Eastman School of Music. There he composed his first major works, among them Theme and Variations (1935) and Jubilee Cantata (1938), as well as various other pieces for piano, vocal, choral and orchestral performance. Upon earning his Ph.D. in 1939, Ussachevsky joined the faculty at Columbia University in 1947; around this time he began making his first forays into electronic music, culminating a few years later with his acquisition of an Ampex tape recorder. In 1952, he and colleague Otto Luening presented the first tape music performance ever given in the U.S., where among the pieces premiered was Ussachevsky's musique concrète landmark Sonic Contours; key works including Poem of Cycles and Bells (1954) and Piece for Tape Recorder (1956), and in 1958 Ussachevsky and Luening received a Rockefeller Foundation grant to open the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center, the first such electro-acoustic facility in America. Complete with four analog tape studios for electronic composition as well as the room-sized RCA Mark II Synthesizer, the CPEMC was the launching pad for countless experimental works, not the least of which were those written by Ussachevsky himself.
-   Jason Ankeny/allmusic

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Ussachevsky Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
If I Had a Spoon, chorus (1932)
Legend, violin and piano (1932)
Ghost Dance, piano (1932)
The Question, piano (1932)
Rondo, violin and piano (1934)
Theme and Variations, orchestra (1935)
Praise Ye the Lord, cantata, chorus and organ (1935) ["Praise Ye O Lord"?]
Classical Suite, piano (1935)
Two Minuets, piano (1935?)
Solemn Prelude, orchestra (1937)
Jubilee Cantata, reader, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1937-38)
    - Our Father, chorus (1937) [from "Jubilee Cantata"]
Lord's Prayer, male chorus (1938)
Circle of Fire, film score (1940) [traditional instruments]
Songs, [????] (1946) [text: Emily Dickinson]
Pieces, piano (1939-47)
Piece, flute and chamber orchestra (1947)
Psalm XXIV, chorus and organ (or soprano, brass and organ; or ??? and brass (1948)
Two Dances, flute and piano (1948; arr. for EVI and piano, 1983)
Miniatures for a Curious Child, suite, piano (1948)
Suite of Moods and Dances, flute and piano (1949)
Miniatures for a Curious Child, orchestra (1950)
Transposition, tape (1951)
Reverberation, tape (1951)
Experiment, tape (1951)
Composition, tape (1951)
Underwater Valse, tape (1951)
Intermezzo, piano and chamber orchestra (1952)
Two Autumn Songs, mezzo-soprano and piano (1952) [text: Rilke]
Sonic Contours, tape (1952)
Incantation, tape (1953) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
Rhapsodic Variations, tape and orchestra (1953-54) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
To Catch a Thief, sound effects for film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1954)
Of Identity, ballet, tape (1954; fp. 1955) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
A Poem In Cycles and Bells, tape and orchestra (1954) [based on orig. work and Otto Luening's "Fantasy In Space", 1952]
Carlsbad Caverns, TV score, tape (1955) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
Crucible, sound effects for opera by R. Ward, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1956)
Macbeth, incidental music for play by J. Duffy, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1956)
King Lear, incidental music, 3 versions: tape; solo voice; l voice, insts and tape (1956) [Shakespeare]  [collab. w/Otto Luening]
Piece for Tape Recorder (1956)
Glittering Gate, sound effects for opera by P. Glanville-Hicks, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1956)
Metamorphoses, tape (1957)
Mathematics, TV score, tape, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1957)
Back to Methuselah, incidental music (1958) [1960?] [collab w/Otto Luening] ["electronic effects created by V. Ussachevsky"]
Studies in Sound, tape (1958)
Ulysses in Nighttown, incidental music (1958) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
Linear Contrasts, tape (1958)
Improvisation on 4711, tape (1958)
The Boy who Saw Through, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1959)
Studies in Sound, Plus, tape (1959)
Concerted Piece, tape and orchestra (1960) [Part I, composed by Otto Luening; Part II, composed by Ussachevsky]
Wireless Fantasy (De Forrest Murmurs), tape (1960)
Creation Prologue, 4 choruses and tape (1960-61)
Prologue "Enuma elish", 2 choruses and tape (1960-61) [part of "Three Scenes from [The] Creation", 1960-71; rev. 1973]
No Exit, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1962) [aka: "Sinners Go to Hell"?]
    - Suite from No Exit (1962)
Of Wood and Brass, tape (1964-65)
Mourning Becomes Electra, sound effects for the opera by M. Levy, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1967)
Suite from Music for Films, tape (1967)
Line of Apogee, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1967)
Four Miniatures, tape (c.1968)
Computer Piece No. 1 (1968)
Incredible Voyage, TV score (1968) [collab. w/Shields, Smiley in collaboration with H. EI- Dabh] [collab. with Otto Luening]
The Cannibals, incidental music, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1969)
Two Images for the Computer Piece, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1969)
We, incidental music for radio play, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1970)
Duck, Duck, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1970)
Interlude, "Conflict", soprano, mezzo-soprano and tape (1971) [part of "Three Scenes from [The] Creation", 1960-71; rev. 1973]
Epilogue, "Spell of Creation", soprano and chorus (1971) [part of "Three Scenes from [The] Creation", 1960-71; rev. 1973]
Three Scenes from [The] Creation (1960-71; rev. 1973)
    - Prologue "Enuma elish", 2 choruses and tape (1960-61)
    - Interlude, "Conflict", soprano, mezzo-soprano and tape (1971)
    - Epilogue, "Spell of Creation", soprano and chorus (1971)
Two Sketches for Computer Piece No. 2, tape (1971)
Flibbertygibbet, sound effects for musical by W. Wright, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1971)
Conflict (An Elec Scene from Creation), tape (1971) [1973-75?]
Missa brevis, soprano, chorus and brass (1972)
Inauguration Fanfares, brass and timpani (1973) [based on Byrd's "The Earl of Oxford's March"]
Colloquy, orchestra, speakers from the orchestra and tape (1976)
Omnia computatas est, computer and organ (1977) [1967?]
Two Experiments, EVI and tape (1979) [in collaboration w/ N. Steiner]
Four Studies, clarinet and EVI/electronic valve instrument (1979)
Dances and Fanfares for a Festive Occasion, orchestra (1980)
Suite, trombone choir (1980)
Pentagram, oboe and EVI/electronic valve instrument (1980)
Divertimento, orchestra, EVI/electronic valve instrument and tape (1980-81)
Celebration 1980, EVI, 6 winds, string orch & tape (1981; rev. for EYI, 3 wind, 3 brass, str, perc & tape as "Divertimento", 1980-81)
Mimicry, alto sax and tape (1982)
Triskelion, oboe and piano (1982)
Novelette pour Bourges, EVI/electronic valve instrument and piano (1983)
Dialogues and Contrasts, brass quintet and tape (1984)
Right Hand Study No. 1, piano (1984)
Right Hand Study No. 2, piano (1984)
Left Hand Rehabilitation Piano Pieces, piano (1984)
Three Voice Fugue for Right Hand Alone, piano (1984)
Sonata, piano (1984, unfinished)
Anniversary Variations, brass quintet (1985)
Episodes, piano 4-hands (1985) [unfinished?]
Mini Preludes, piano (1985)
To The Young, cantata, double chorus, orchestra and soprano solo (1988) [text: Denise Levertov] [last completed work]


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Ussachevsky Links     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Of Identity, ballet, tape (1954; fp. 1955) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]

Orchestra
Theme and Variations, orchestra (1935)
Solemn Prelude, orchestra (1937)
Miniatures for a Curious Child, orchestra (1950)
Rhapsodic Variations, tape and orchestra (1953-54) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
A Poem In Cycles and Bells, tape and orchestra (1954) [based on orig. work and Otto Luening's "Fantasy In Space", 1952]
Concerted Piece, tape and orchestra (1960) [Part I, composed by Otto Luening; Part II, composed by Ussachevsky]
Colloquy, orchestra, speakers from the orchestra and tape (1976)
Celebration 1980, EVI, 6 winds, string orch & tape (1981; rev. for EYI, 3 wind, 3 brass, str, perc & tape as "Divertimento", 1980-81)
Divertimento, orchestra, EVI/electronic valve instrument and tape (1980-81) [orig. title: "Celebration 1981"]
Dances and Fanfares for a Festive Occasion, orchestra (1980)
    - Entrata

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Piece, flute and chamber orchestra (1947)
Intermezzo, piano and chamber orchestra (1952)

Chorus w/Orchestra
Jubilee Cantata, reader, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1937-38)
    - Our Father, chorus (1937) [from "Jubilee Cantata"]
To The Young, cantata, double chorus, orchestra and soprano solo (1988) [text: Denise Levertov]

Choral
If I Had a Spoon, chorus (1932)
Praise Ye the Lord, cantata, chorus and organ (1935) ["Praise Ye O Lord"?]
Lord's Prayer, male chorus (1938)
Psalm XXIV, chorus and organ (or soprano, brass and organ; or ??? and brass (1948)
Creation Prologue, 4 choruses and tape (1960-61)
Three Scenes from [The] Creation (1960-71; rev. 1973)
    - Prologue "Enuma elish", 2 choruses and tape (1960-61)
    - Interlude, "Conflict", soprano, mezzo-soprano and tape (1971)
    - Epilogue, "Spell of Creation", soprano and chorus (1971)
Missa brevis, soprano, chorus and brass (1972)
To The Young, chorus and orchestra (1988) [last completed work] [for Centennial of Pomona College]

Chamber
Inauguration Fanfares, brass and timpani (1973) [based on Byrd's "The Earl of Oxford's March"]
Suite, trombone choir (1980)
Dialogues and Contrasts, brass quintet and tape (1984)
Anniversary Variations, brass quintet (1985)

Solo Instrument
Legend, violin and piano (1932)
Rondo, violin and piano (1934)
Two Dances, flute and piano (1948; arr. for EVI and piano, 1983)
Suite of Moods and Dances, flute and piano (1949)
Two Experiments, EVI and tape (1979) [in collaboration w/ N. Steiner]
Four Studies, clarinet and EVI/electronic valve instrument (1979)
Pentagram, oboe and EVI/electronic valve instrument (1980)
Mimicry, alto sax and tape (1982)
Triskelion, oboe and piano (1982)
Novelette pour Bourges, EVI/electronic valve instrument and piano (1983)

Piano/Organ
Ghost Dance, piano (1932)
The Question, piano (1932)
Classical Suite, piano (1935)
Two Minuets, piano (1935?)
Pieces, piano (1939-47)
Miniatures for a Curious Child, suite, piano (1948)
Omnia computatas est, computer and organ (1977) [1967?]
Right Hand Study No. 1, piano (1984)
Right Hand Study No. 2, piano (1984)
Left Hand Rehabilitation Piano Pieces, piano (1984)
Three Voice Fugue for Right Hand Alone, piano (1984)
Sonata, piano (1984, unfinished)
Episodes, piano 4-hands (1985) [unfinished?]
Mini Preludes, piano (1985)

Vocal
Songs, [????] (1946) [text: Emily Dickinson]
Two Autumn Songs, mezzo-soprano and piano (1952) [text: Rilke]

Film/TV
Circle of Fire, film score (1940) [traditional instruments]
To Catch a Thief, sound effects for film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1954)
Carlsbad Caverns, TV score, tape (1955) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
Mathematics, TV score, tape, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1957)
The Boy who Saw Through, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1959)
No Exit, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1962) [aka: "Sinners Go to Hell"?]
    - Suite from No Exit (1962)
Suite from Music for Films, tape (1967)
Line of Apogee, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1967)
Incredible Voyage, TV score (1968) [collab. w/Shields, Smiley in collaboration with H. EI- Dabh] [collab. with Otto Luening]
Two Images for the Computer Piece, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1969)
Duck, Duck, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1970)

Incidental
Crucible, sound effects for opera by R. Ward, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1956)
Macbeth, incidental music for play by J. Duffy, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1956)
King Lear, incidental music, 3 versions: tape; solo voice; l voice, insts and tape (1956) [Shakespeare]  [collab. w/Otto Luening]
Glittering Gate, sound effects for opera by P. Glanville-Hicks, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1956)
Back to Methuselah, incidental music (1958) [1960?] [collab w/Otto Luening] ["electronic effects created by V. Ussachevsky"]
Ulysses in Nighttown, incidental music (1958) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
Mourning Becomes Electra, sound effects for the opera by M. Levy, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1967)
The Cannibals, incidental music, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1969)
We, incidental music for radio play, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1970)
Flibbertygibbet, sound effects for musical by W. Wright, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1971)

Tape (alone)
Transposition, tape (1951)
Reverberation, tape (1951)
Experiment, tape (1951)
Composition, tape (1951)
Underwater Valse, tape (1951)
Sonic Contours, tape (1952)
Incantation, tape (1953) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
A Of Identity, ballet, tape (1954) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
Carlsbad Caverns, TV score, tape (1955) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
Piece for Tape Recorder (1956)
Metamorphoses, tape (1957)
Studies in Sound, tape (1958)
Linear Contrasts, tape (1958)
Improvisation on 4711, tape (1958)
Studies in Sound, Plus, tape (1959)
Wireless Fantasy (De Forrest Murmurs), tape (1960)
Of Wood and Brass, tape (1964-65)
Suite from Music for Films, tape (1967)
Four Miniatures, tape (c.1968)
Computer Piece No. 1 (1968)
Incredible Voyage, TV film score, tape (1968) [in collaboration w/Shields, Smiley]
Two Sketches for Computer Piece No. 2, tape (1971)
Conflict (An Elec Scene from Creation), tape (1971) [1973-75?]

EVI/electronic valve instrument (and w/other instruments, etc)
To Catch a Thief, sound effects for film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1954)
Crucible, sound effects for opera by R. Ward, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1956)
Glittering Gate, sound effects for opera by P. Glanville-Hicks, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1956)
Macbeth, incidental music for play by J. Duffy, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1956)
Mathematics, TV score, tape, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1957)
The Boy who Saw Through, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1959)
No Exit, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1962) [aka: "Sinners Go to Hell"?]
    - Suite from No Exit (1962)
Line of Apogee, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1967)
Mourning Becomes Electra, sound effects for the opera by M. Levy, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1967)
The Cannibals, incidental music, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1969)
Two Images for the Computer Piece, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1969)
We, incidental music for radio play, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1970)
Duck, Duck, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1970)
Flibbertygibbet, sound effects for musical by W. Wright, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1971)
Two Experiments, EVI and tape (1979) [in collaboration w/ N. Steiner]
Four Studies, clarinet and EVI/electronic valve instrument (1979)
Pentagram, oboe and EVI/electronic valve instrument (1980)
Divertimento, orchestra, EVI/electronic valve instrument and tape (1980-81) [orig. title: "Celebration 1981"]
Celebration 1980, EVI, 6 winds, string orch & tape (1981; rev. for EYI, 3 wind, 3 brass, str, perc & tape as "Divertimento", 1980-81)
Novelette pour Bourges, EVI/electronic valve instrument and piano (1983)

Electronic - Complete
Transposition, tape (1951)
Reverberation, tape (1951)
Experiment, tape (1951)
Composition, tape (1951)
Underwater Valse, tape (1951)
Sonic Contours, tape (1952)
Incantation, tape (1953) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
Rhapsodic Variations, tape and orchestra (1953-54) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
To Catch a Thief, sound effects for film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1954)
Of Identity, ballet, tape (1954; fp. 1955) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
A Poem In Cycles and Bells, tape and orchestra (1954) [based on orig. work and Otto Luening's "Fantasy In Space", 1952]
Carlsbad Caverns, TV score, tape (1955) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
Crucible, sound effects for opera by R. Ward, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1956)
Macbeth, incidental music for play by J. Duffy, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1956)
King Lear, incidental music, 3 versions: tape; solo voice; l voice, insts and tape (1956) [Shakespeare]  [collab. w/Otto Luening]
Piece for Tape Recorder (1956)
Glittering Gate, sound effects for opera by P. Glanville-Hicks, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1956)
Metamorphoses, tape (1957)
Mathematics, TV score, tape, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1957)
Back to Methuselah, incidental music (1958) [1960?] [collab w/Otto Luening] ["electronic effects created by V. Ussachevsky"]
Studies in Sound, tape (1958)
Ulysses in Nighttown, incidental music (1958) [in collaboration w/Otto Luening]
Linear Contrasts, tape (1958)
Improvisation on 4711, tape (1958)
The Boy who Saw Through, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1959)
Studies in Sound, Plus, tape (1959)
Concerted Piece, tape and orchestra (1960) [Part I, composed by Otto Luening; Part II, composed by Ussachevsky]
Wireless Fantasy (De Forrest Murmurs), tape (1960)
Creation Prologue, 4 choruses and tape (1960-61)
No Exit, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1962) [aka: "Sinners Go to Hell"?]
    - Suite from No Exit (1962)
Of Wood and Brass, tape (1964-65)
Mourning Becomes Electra, sound effects for the opera by M. Levy, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1967)
Suite from Music for Films, tape (1967)
Line of Apogee, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1967)
Four Miniatures, tape (c.1968)
Computer Piece No. 1 (1968)
Incredible Voyage, TV score (1968) [collab. w/Shields, Smiley in collaboration with H. EI- Dabh] [collab. with Otto Luening]
The Cannibals, incidental music, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1969)
Two Images for the Computer Piece, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1969)
We, incidental music for radio play, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1970)
Duck, Duck, film score, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1970)
Two Sketches for Computer Piece No. 2, tape (1971)
Flibbertygibbet, sound effects for musical by W. Wright, EVI/electronic valve instrument (1971)
Conflict (An Elec Scene from Creation), tape (1971) [1973-75?]
Three Scenes from [The] Creation (1960-71; rev. 1973)
    - Prologue "Enuma elish", 2 choruses and tape (1960-61)
    - Interlude, "Conflict", soprano, mezzo-soprano and tape (1971)
    - Epilogue, "Spell of Creation", soprano and chorus (1971)
Colloquy, orchestra, speakers from the orchestra and tape (1976)
Omnia computatas est, computer and organ (1977) [1967?]
Two Experiments, EVI and tape (1979) [in collaboration w/ N. Steiner]
Four Studies, clarinet and EVI/electronic valve instrument (1979)
Pentagram, oboe and EVI/electronic valve instrument (1980)
Divertimento, orchestra, EVI/electronic valve instrument and tape (1980-81)
Celebration 1980, EVI, 6 winds, string orch & tape (1981; rev. for EYI, 3 wind, 3 brass, str, perc & tape as "Divertimento", 1980-81)
Mimicry, alto sax and tape (1982)
Novelette pour Bourges, EVI/electronic valve instrument and piano (1983)
Dialogues and Contrasts, brass quintet and tape (1984)


USSACHEVSKY  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~
Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center (Perfect Sound Forever, furious.com)
The Electronic Century Part II: Tales of the Tape (Joel Chadabe, emusician.com)
Luening and Ussachevsky – Rhapsodic Variations (Pomona College Orchestra)
The Music of Vladimir Ussachevsky (Brian Glick, zingmagazine)
Vladimir Ussachevsky, 78, Electronic Composer (John Rockwell, The New York Times)

Books
Vladimir Ussachevsky: A Bio-bibliography (Ralph Hartsock, Carl John Rahkonen, Greenwood Pub, books.google.com)

Composer website (at American Composers Alliance)  . . .   inquire about Vladimir Ussachevsky:  here

Ussachevsky @ Wikipedia
Ussachevsky @ American Composer Alliance
Ussachevsky @ ANABlog
Ussachevsky @ Answers.com
Ussachevsky @ Art of the States    also     here
Ussachevsky @ Basic Famous People
Ussachevsky @ The ... BlueDawe Blog
Ussachevsky @ CITWF / Complete Index to World Film
Ussachevsky @ Classical Composers Database
Ussachevsky @ The Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center
Ussachevsky @ Computer Music Center at Columbia University
Ussachevsky @ Dr. Estrella's Incredibly Abridged Dictionary of Composers
Ussachevsky @ Facebook
Ussachevsky @ Fact Monster
Ussachevsky @ Forced Exposure
Ussachevsky @ IBDB
Ussachevsky @ ibiblio
Ussachevsky @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Ussachevsky @ Infography
Ussachevsky @ Library of Congress/Vladimir Ussachevsky Collection
Ussachevsky @ Modern Classical
Ussachevsky @ MSN Music
Ussachevsky @ MusicWeb International
Ussachevsky @ New World Records    also here
Ussachevsky @ The New York Times
Ussachevsky @ NNDB
Ussachevsky @ NYU Digital Library Technology Services
Ussachevsky @ Perfect Sound Forever/furious.com
Ussachevsky @ Piero Scaruffi
Ussachevsky @ SEAMUS Online
Ussachevsky @ SoundtrackCollector
Ussachevsky @ Star Pulse
Ussachevsky @ Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary

Publisher
Ussachevsky @ American Composers Alliance
Ussachevsky @ Galaxy Music Corp.
Ussachevsky @ Highgate Press [sole agents, Galaxy Music Corp.]
Ussachevsky @ Mobart Music Publications
Ussachevsky @ Pemboke Music [sole selling agent, C. Fischer]
Ussachevsky @ Edition Peters/C.F. Peters

Streaming Audio
Ussachevsky @ Art of the States
Ussachevsky @ last.fm
Ussachevsky @ Rhapsody    also     here

Recordings
Ussachevsky @ ArkivMusic
Ussachevsky @ CDeMusic
Ussachevsky @ Discogs
Ussachevsky @ DRAM
Ussachevsky @ Forced Exposure
Ussachevsky @ New World Records

Video
Ussachevsky @ YouTube
Ussachevsky @ Google Video
Ussachevsky @ Vimeo
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