Role

:

Composer Conductor Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

1967 in Chicago, IL

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Keyboard

 

Mark Applebaum is a contemporary classical music composer, performer, and improviser. He was born on February 21, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in a musical family. His father was a jazz pianist, and his mother was a classical pianist. Applebaum started playing the piano at the age of six and later learned to play the saxophone, guitar, and percussion. Applebaum received his Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Carleton College in 1989 and his Master of Arts and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in composition from Stanford University in 1991 and 1996, respectively. He studied composition with Brian Ferneyhough, Joël-François Durand, and Jay Clayton, among others. Applebaum's music is known for its unconventional instrumentation, graphic notation, and use of found objects. He often incorporates elements of performance art, theater, and humor into his compositions. His works have been performed by leading ensembles and soloists, including the Kronos Quartet, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Bang on a Can All-Stars. One of Applebaum's most famous works is "The Metaphysics of Notation," a piece for solo performer that uses a graphic score consisting of over 70 pages of abstract symbols and shapes. The performer is instructed to interpret the score in any way they choose, resulting in a unique and unpredictable performance each time the piece is played. Another notable work by Applebaum is "Aphasia," a multimedia opera that explores the experience of losing language. The piece features a libretto made up entirely of non-lexical vocalizations, such as grunts, sighs, and whispers, and incorporates video projections and live electronics. Applebaum has also created a number of works that use found objects as instruments, such as "The Composer's Last Meal," which features a table full of food and utensils that are used to create a percussion ensemble, and "Mousetrap Music," which uses dozens of mousetraps as sound generators. In addition to his work as a composer, Applebaum is also an accomplished improviser and performer. He has released several albums of improvised music, including "The Janus ReMixes," which features remixes of his own compositions, and "Speed Dating," a collection of short improvisations with various collaborators. Applebaum has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Fulbright Scholarship, and a commission from the Fromm Music Foundation. He has also been a resident artist at the MacDowell Colony, the Civitella Ranieri Center, and the Djerassi Resident Artists Program. Overall, Mark Applebaum is a unique and innovative voice in contemporary classical music, known for his unconventional approach to composition and performance. His works challenge traditional notions of musical notation and instrumentation, and his use of humor and theatricality adds an element of playfulness to his music.

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