Role

:

Composer Conductor Performer

Birth

:

July 5, 1926 in Somerville, NJ

Death

:

January 26, 1993 in Iowa City, IA

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

Kenneth Gaburo was an American composer, born on October 31, 1926, in Somerville, New Jersey. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Gaburo started playing the piano at a young age and showed an early interest in music. Gaburo attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he studied composition with Bernard Rogers and Howard Hanson. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1949 and went on to study at the University of Illinois, where he earned his Master of Music degree in 1951. After completing his studies, Gaburo began his career as a composer and educator. He taught at various institutions, including the University of Illinois, the University of California, San Diego, and the California Institute of the Arts. He also founded the New Music Choral Ensemble, which performed his works and those of other contemporary composers. Gaburo's music was known for its experimental and avant-garde qualities. He was interested in exploring new sounds and techniques, and his compositions often incorporated extended vocal techniques, electronic music, and unconventional instrumentation. He was also interested in the relationship between music and language and often used text as a starting point for his compositions. One of Gaburo's most famous works is "Antiphony IV: The Entropic Tarot," which was composed in 1968. The piece is a choral work that incorporates spoken text, electronic music, and unconventional vocal techniques. The text is based on the Tarot cards, and the music is meant to evoke the mystical and spiritual qualities of the cards. Another notable work by Gaburo is "Maledetto," which was composed in 1963. The piece is a solo work for voice and tape and incorporates extended vocal techniques, such as growling, whispering, and screaming. The text is in Italian and is based on a poem by Gaburo's friend, the poet Eugenio Montale. Gaburo's music was often controversial and challenging, and he was known for pushing the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in contemporary music. He was a pioneer in the field of experimental music and was influential in the development of the American avant-garde. Gaburo died on January 17, 1993, in La Jolla, California, at the age of 66. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to inspire and challenge musicians and audiences alike.

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