Kyle Gann

Kyle Gann (born 1955) is a composer and music critic born in Dallas, Texas. As a critic for The Village Voice and other publications he is a supporter of progressive music including such Downtown movements as postminimalism and totalism. As a composer his works fall generally into three categories:

Related Topics:
1955 - Composer - Dallas - Texas - The Village Voice - Downtown - Postminimalism - Totalism

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• microtonal works in just intonation, involving electronics;
• rhythmically complex works for Disklavier (computer-driven acoustic piano); and
• piano and ensemble music whose rhythmic complexity tends to be milder and within a single tempo framework.

Raised in a musical family, Gann began composing at the age of 13. He attended Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he obtained a B.Mus. in 1977 and Northwestern University where he received his M.Mus. in 1981 and then his D.Mus. in 1983. He studied composition primarily with Ben Johnston and Peter Gena, and briefly with Morton Feldman. In 1981-82 he worked for the New Music America festival, and afterward gained experience as a journalist at the Chicago Reader, Tribune, and Sun-Times. He was hired at The Village Voice in 1986, and taught part-time at Bucknell University from 1989 to 1997. Since 1997 he has taught music theory, history, and composition at Bard College in upstate New York.

Related Topics:
Oberlin Conservatory of Music - 1977 - Northwestern University - 1981 - 1983 - Ben Johnston - Morton Feldman - 82 - Chicago - Reader - Tribune - Sun-Times - Village Voice - 1986 - Bucknell University - 1989 - 1997 - Bard College - Upstate New York

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Gann's books include:

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:American Music in the 20th century, ISBN 002864655X

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:The Music of Conlon Nancarrow, ISBN 0521465346

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:Music Downtown: Writings from the Village Voice.

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Kyle Gann: Major Works ►