Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

August 16, 1937 in Salzburg, Austria

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

David Behrman is a renowned American composer and performer of contemporary classical music. He was born on August 16, 1937, in Salzburg, Austria, to American parents. His father was a diplomat, and his mother was a pianist. Behrman grew up in various countries, including Austria, Germany, and the United States, and was exposed to a diverse range of musical styles and traditions from an early age. Behrman began his musical education at the age of six, studying piano and composition with his mother. He later studied at Harvard University, where he earned a degree in English literature. During his time at Harvard, Behrman became interested in electronic music and began experimenting with tape recorders and other electronic equipment. In the early 1960s, Behrman moved to New York City and became involved in the city's avant-garde music scene. He worked with a number of experimental composers and performers, including John Cage, Robert Ashley, and Alvin Lucier. Behrman also became interested in the use of computers in music composition and began working with early computer systems, such as the IBM 7090. One of Behrman's most significant early works was "Wave Train," a piece for amplified guitar and electronics that he composed in 1966. The piece was performed at the legendary 1966 Festival of the Arts Today in New York City and was later released on the influential Columbia Records album "New Sounds in Electronic Music." In the 1970s, Behrman began working with the Sonic Arts Union, a collective of composers and performers that also included Ashley, Lucier, and Gordon Mumma. The group performed together throughout the United States and Europe and released several albums of their work. Behrman's work during this period was characterized by his use of live electronics and computer systems to create complex, layered soundscapes. He also began incorporating elements of improvisation into his compositions, allowing performers to interact with the electronic elements of the music in real-time. One of Behrman's most notable works from this period was "On the Other Ocean," a piece for flute, percussion, and electronics that he composed in 1977. The piece was commissioned by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and was performed as part of the company's repertory for many years. In the 1980s and 1990s, Behrman continued to explore the possibilities of live electronics and computer systems in his music. He also began incorporating elements of video and visual art into his performances, collaborating with artists such as Nam June Paik and Robert Rauschenberg. One of Behrman's most significant works from this period was "Leapday Night," a multimedia performance piece that he created in collaboration with Rauschenberg and choreographer Trisha Brown. The piece premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1988 and was later performed at venues around the world. Behrman has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts grant, and a DAAD Fellowship. He has also been commissioned to create works by a number of prestigious organizations, including the New York Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Kronos Quartet. Today, Behrman continues to be an active composer and performer, and his work continues to be celebrated for its innovative use of technology and its exploration of the boundaries between composition and improvisation.

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