Role

:

Composer Conductor Performer

Birth

:

November 24, 1953 in Mount Vernon, NY

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

 

Opera

 

Tod Machover is a renowned composer of classical music, known for his innovative use of technology in his compositions. Born on November 24, 1953, in Mount Vernon, New York, Machover grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a pianist and his mother was a violinist, and they both encouraged their son's interest in music from a young age. Machover began playing the piano at the age of five and later learned to play the viola and the French horn. He attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied composition with Elliott Carter and Roger Sessions. After graduating from Juilliard, Machover went on to earn a Ph.D. in composition from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Machover's early compositions were influenced by the avant-garde music of the 1960s and 1970s, particularly the work of composers like John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen. He was also interested in the use of technology in music, and began experimenting with electronic music and computer-generated sounds. One of Machover's early works, "Valis," was composed in 1987 and featured a computer-generated score that was played by a live orchestra. The piece was inspired by the science fiction novel of the same name by Philip K. Dick, and explored themes of reality and perception. In the 1990s, Machover began working on a series of compositions that would become known as his "hyperinstruments." These were musical instruments that were designed to be played in new and innovative ways, using technology to enhance the sound and create new possibilities for expression. One of the most famous of these hyperinstruments is the "Hypercello," which was created for cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The instrument uses sensors to detect the position of the player's fingers and bow, and can produce a wide range of sounds and effects. Machover's work with hyperinstruments led to collaborations with a number of other musicians and artists, including the rock band Aerosmith and the performance artist Laurie Anderson. In addition to his work as a composer, Machover has also been involved in the development of new technologies for music. He was a co-founder of the Media Lab at MIT, where he has worked on projects such as the "Brain Opera," a musical performance that was controlled by the brainwaves of the audience. Machover's compositions have been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, and he has received numerous awards and honors for his work. In 2013, he was awarded the Arts and Letters Award in Music from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Some of Machover's most famous works include "Begin Again Again," a piece for orchestra and electronics that was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and "Flora," an opera that was premiered at the Pompidou Center in Paris in 1998. Machover continues to be an active composer and innovator in the world of classical music, and his work continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in music and technology.

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