Role

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Ensemble

 

The Paul Dresher Ensemble is a contemporary classical music ensemble founded in 1980 by composer and performer Paul Dresher. The ensemble is known for its innovative and experimental approach to music, incorporating elements of world music, electronic music, and classical music into their performances. Paul Dresher, the founder of the ensemble, is a composer, performer, and instrument builder. He was born in 1951 in Los Angeles, California, and began his musical career as a guitarist. He later studied composition at the University of California, Berkeley, and went on to become a prominent figure in the contemporary classical music scene. Dresher founded the Paul Dresher Ensemble in 1980 with the goal of creating a new kind of music that combined elements of different musical traditions. The ensemble's early performances were characterized by their use of unconventional instruments, such as the marimba lumina, a digital instrument that Dresher invented. The ensemble's main members have changed over the years, but have always included a mix of instrumentalists, vocalists, and electronic musicians. Some of the ensemble's most notable members have included percussionist Joel Davel, vocalist Rinde Eckert, and electronic musician and sound designer Daniel Schmidt. One of the ensemble's most notable performances was their 1986 production of "Slow Fire," a multimedia opera that combined music, dance, and video. The opera was a critical and commercial success, and was later performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City. The ensemble has also collaborated with a number of other artists and organizations over the years. In 1992, they collaborated with the San Francisco Symphony to perform Dresher's "Crazy Eights" for orchestra and percussion. They have also worked with the Kronos Quartet, the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, and the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra. In addition to their performances, the Paul Dresher Ensemble has also received a number of awards and honors over the years. In 1996, they received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support the creation of a new work. They have also received grants from the Rockefeller Foundation, the California Arts Council, and the Hewlett Foundation. Overall, the Paul Dresher Ensemble has had a significant impact on the contemporary classical music scene, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in music and inspiring other musicians to experiment with new sounds and techniques. Their innovative approach to music has earned them a dedicated following and a reputation as one of the most exciting and innovative ensembles in the world of classical music.

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