Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

October 6, 1948 in Harrisburg, PA

Death

:

May 13, 2018 in New York City, NY

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Film

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

Glenn Branca was an American composer and guitarist who was born on October 6, 1948, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was raised in a musical family, and his father was a jazz drummer. Branca began playing guitar at the age of 15 and was heavily influenced by the music of Jimi Hendrix and the Velvet Underground. In the early 1970s, Branca moved to New York City and became involved in the city's avant-garde music scene. He formed his own ensemble, Theoretical Girls, which was known for its experimental and unconventional approach to music. The group's music was a blend of punk rock, minimalism, and avant-garde classical music. Branca's early compositions were heavily influenced by the minimalist music of composers such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass. He began experimenting with alternate tunings and unconventional playing techniques, which would become a hallmark of his later work. In 1981, Branca composed his first symphony for electric guitars, which was performed at The Kitchen, a prominent experimental music venue in New York City. The piece featured multiple guitarists playing in alternate tunings and was a groundbreaking work that helped establish Branca as a leading figure in the avant-garde music scene. Branca continued to compose symphonies for electric guitars throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including his second symphony, which was commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1984. The piece featured 100 guitarists playing in unison and was a massive undertaking that required months of rehearsal. In addition to his work with electric guitars, Branca also composed for traditional orchestral instruments. His 1989 work, "The World Upside Down," was a concerto for orchestra and featured a complex and intricate score that showcased Branca's mastery of orchestration. Branca's music was often characterized by its intense and aggressive sound, which was a reflection of his punk rock roots. His compositions were also known for their use of repetition and drone-like textures, which created a hypnotic and trance-like effect. In addition to his work as a composer, Branca was also a respected guitarist and performer. He released several albums of his own music, including "The Ascension" (1981) and "Symphony No. 6 (Devil Choirs at the Gates of Heaven)" (1989). Branca's influence on the avant-garde music scene cannot be overstated. His use of alternate tunings and unconventional playing techniques inspired a generation of guitarists and composers, and his symphonies for electric guitars remain some of the most innovative and groundbreaking works in the history of contemporary music. Sadly, Branca passed away on May 13, 2018, at the age of 69. His legacy as a composer and musician continues to inspire and influence musicians around the world.

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