Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

1956

Death

:

October 2, 2010

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

Arthur Jarvinen was a renowned American composer, percussionist, and conductor who made significant contributions to the world of contemporary classical music. Born on June 13, 1956, in Los Angeles, California, Jarvinen grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to music from an early age. His father, William Jarvinen, was a composer and music educator, while his mother, Mary Jarvinen, was a pianist and music teacher. Jarvinen began his musical journey as a percussionist, studying under the tutelage of William Kraft at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He later went on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in 1979, where he studied composition with Morton Subotnick and James Tenney. Throughout his career, Jarvinen was known for his innovative and experimental approach to music, often incorporating unconventional instruments and techniques into his compositions. He was particularly interested in exploring the boundaries between different genres of music, blending elements of classical, jazz, rock, and world music to create a unique and eclectic sound. One of Jarvinen's most notable achievements was his founding of the California E.A.R. Unit in 1981, a contemporary music ensemble that quickly gained recognition for its groundbreaking performances and collaborations with other artists. As the group's artistic director and percussionist, Jarvinen helped to establish the California E.A.R. Unit as one of the leading contemporary music ensembles in the United States, performing at major venues and festivals around the world. In addition to his work with the California E.A.R. Unit, Jarvinen was also a prolific composer, with a catalog of over 100 works that spanned a wide range of styles and genres. Some of his most notable compositions include "The Green Automobile," a multimedia work that combined live performance with video and electronic music, and "The Frame Problem," a piece for chamber ensemble that explored the concept of artificial intelligence. Throughout his career, Jarvinen received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of contemporary classical music. In 1992, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, which allowed him to travel to Europe and study with some of the leading composers and performers of the time. He was also the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Music Center, and the California Arts Council, among others. Sadly, Jarvinen's life and career were cut short when he passed away on April 3, 2010, at the age of 53. However, his legacy lives on through his music and the countless musicians and artists he inspired throughout his career. Today, he is remembered as a pioneering figure in the world of contemporary classical music, whose innovative and experimental approach to music continues to influence and inspire new generations of musicians and composers.

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