Role

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Composer  

Country

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United States of America

 

Earl Howard was an American composer and saxophonist who was born on December 23, 1951, in San Francisco, California. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a singer. Howard started playing the saxophone at a young age and was soon performing in local jazz clubs. Howard attended San Francisco State University, where he studied music composition and theory. He also studied with the renowned composer and pianist, Frederic Rzewski, at the University of California, San Diego. During this time, Howard became interested in electronic music and began experimenting with synthesizers and other electronic instruments. In the late 1970s, Howard moved to New York City, where he became involved in the downtown music scene. He performed with a number of avant-garde musicians, including Anthony Braxton, John Zorn, and Butch Morris. Howard also began composing his own music, which combined elements of jazz, classical music, and electronic music. One of Howard's early works was "Five Saxophones," which was composed in 1980. The piece features five saxophonists playing overlapping lines, creating a complex and intricate texture. Another notable work from this period was "Machine," which was composed in 1982. This piece features electronic sounds and live saxophone playing, creating a unique blend of acoustic and electronic music. In the mid-1980s, Howard began working with the composer and performer, Robert Ashley. Howard played saxophone in Ashley's opera, "Atalanta (Acts of God)," which premiered in 1985. Howard also composed music for Ashley's "Improvement (Don Leaves Linda)," which premiered in 1991. Howard continued to compose and perform throughout the 1990s and 2000s. He released several albums of his own music, including "Gravity" (1990), "The Invisible Landscape" (1994), and "Tangents" (2002). Howard also collaborated with a number of other musicians, including percussionist Gerry Hemingway and guitarist Fred Frith. One of Howard's most ambitious works was "Momentum," which was composed in 2005. The piece features a large ensemble of musicians, including saxophones, brass, percussion, and electronics. "Momentum" is a complex and dynamic work, with shifting textures and rhythms that create a sense of constant motion. Howard continued to perform and compose until his death on April 23, 2018, at the age of 66. He was a highly respected figure in the world of experimental music, known for his innovative approach to composition and his virtuosic saxophone playing. Howard's music remains an important part of the avant-garde tradition, and his influence can be heard in the work of many contemporary composers and performers.

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