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Composer

 

Michael Fahres is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in 1956 in San Francisco, California. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Fahres began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and French horn. Fahres attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied composition with John Adams and Andrew Imbrie. He later earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in composition from Mills College in Oakland, California. Fahres' early works were heavily influenced by the minimalist music of composers such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass. His first major composition, "The Glass Orchestra," was written for a group of musicians playing glass instruments. The piece was performed at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 1982 and received critical acclaim. In the 1990s, Fahres began to incorporate electronic music into his compositions. His work "The Tubes" for trumpet and electronics was premiered in 1993 and showcased his ability to blend acoustic and electronic sounds seamlessly. One of Fahres' most notable works is "The Listening Array," a site-specific sound installation that was commissioned by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2004. The piece consisted of a series of speakers placed throughout the museum, each playing a different sound or musical composition. Visitors were encouraged to move through the museum and experience the piece from different perspectives. Fahres has also composed music for dance and theater productions. His collaboration with choreographer Margaret Jenkins resulted in the piece "Light Moves," which premiered in 2005. The work featured live music by Fahres and his ensemble, as well as video projections and lighting effects. In addition to his work as a composer, Fahres has also been involved in music education. He has taught composition and electronic music at Mills College and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and has led workshops and masterclasses around the world. Fahres' music is characterized by its use of repetition, layering, and gradual transformation of musical ideas. He often incorporates natural sounds and field recordings into his compositions, creating a sense of place and atmosphere. His work has been described as "meditative" and "hypnotic," with a focus on the exploration of sound and texture. Overall, Michael Fahres is a highly respected composer in the contemporary classical music world. His innovative use of electronic music and site-specific installations have pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the genre. His work continues to inspire and challenge audiences around the world.

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