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Earle Brigham was an American composer of classical music who was born on December 22, 1929, in New York City. He was the son of a violinist and a pianist, and his parents encouraged him to pursue music from a young age. Brigham began playing the piano at the age of four and showed a natural talent for the instrument. Brigham's family moved to California when he was a child, and he continued his musical education there. He studied piano with the renowned teacher Olga Steeb and composition with Ernst Toch, a composer and teacher who had fled Nazi Germany. Toch was a major influence on Brigham's musical style, and he encouraged Brigham to experiment with different forms and techniques. Brigham attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned a bachelor's degree in music composition. He then went on to study at the University of Southern California, where he earned a master's degree in music composition. While at USC, Brigham studied with Halsey Stevens, a composer and teacher who was known for his rigorous approach to composition. Brigham's early works were influenced by the serialist techniques that were popular in the mid-20th century. However, he soon began to experiment with other forms and techniques, including aleatoric music, which involves chance elements in the composition process. Brigham's music was characterized by its complexity and its use of unconventional forms and techniques. One of Brigham's early works, "String Quartet No. 1," was premiered in 1955 by the Griller Quartet. The piece was well-received and helped establish Brigham as a promising young composer. He went on to write several other chamber works, including "String Quartet No. 2" and "String Quartet No. 3." In the 1960s, Brigham began to experiment with electronic music. He was one of the first composers to use the Moog synthesizer, which had just been invented. Brigham's electronic works were characterized by their use of unconventional sounds and textures, and they were often performed in multimedia presentations that included visual elements. One of Brigham's most famous works is "The Seven Deadly Sins," a multimedia piece that was premiered in 1967. The piece was a collaboration with the artist Robert Whitman and the choreographer Anna Halprin. It included electronic music, dance, and video projections, and it explored the theme of sin and redemption. Brigham continued to write music throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He wrote several orchestral works, including "Symphony No. 1" and "Symphony No. 2." He also wrote several operas, including "The Trial of Mary Lincoln" and "The Death of Klinghoffer." Brigham's later works were characterized by their use of tonality and their incorporation of elements from popular music. He was influenced by the minimalist composers of the 1970s, and his music became more accessible and melodic. Brigham died on January 27, 1990, in Los Angeles. He left behind a legacy of innovative and challenging music that pushed the boundaries of classical music. His works continue to be performed and studied by musicians and scholars around the world.

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