Role

:

Composer  

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

Lawrence Casserley is a British composer, performer, and researcher who has made significant contributions to the field of electronic music. He was born on May 13, 1941, in Birmingham, England, and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist, and they encouraged him to pursue music from a young age. Casserley began his musical education at the Birmingham School of Music, where he studied piano, violin, and composition. He later attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition with Lennox Berkeley and electronic music with Tristram Cary. It was during this time that he became interested in the possibilities of electronic music and began to experiment with tape recorders and other electronic equipment. After completing his studies, Casserley worked as a freelance composer and performer, collaborating with a variety of musicians and artists. He also began to develop his own electronic instruments, including the Casserley Signal Processing Instrument (CSPI), which he used to create a unique sound world that blended acoustic and electronic elements. One of Casserley's most significant works is "Music for Snakes and Ladders," a piece for CSPI and percussion that was commissioned by the BBC in 1977. The piece was inspired by the children's game of the same name and features a series of musical "ladders" and "snakes" that lead the listener through a complex and unpredictable sonic landscape. Casserley's other notable works include "The Way to the Sea," a piece for CSPI and voice that was inspired by the poetry of T.S. Eliot, and "The Darkening Ground," a piece for CSPI and cello that explores the relationship between sound and silence. In addition to his work as a composer, Casserley has also been a pioneer in the field of live electronic music performance. He has collaborated with a number of improvising musicians, including saxophonist Evan Parker and percussionist Paul Lytton, and has developed a unique approach to live electronic music that emphasizes real-time interaction and improvisation. Casserley has also been a dedicated researcher and educator, and has written extensively on the history and theory of electronic music. He has taught at a number of institutions, including the Royal Academy of Music and the University of Sussex, and has been a visiting lecturer at universities around the world. Throughout his career, Casserley has remained committed to exploring the possibilities of electronic music and pushing the boundaries of what is possible with sound. His innovative work has had a significant impact on the field of electronic music, and he continues to be a leading figure in the world of experimental music today.

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