Rhys Chatham

Rhys Chatham (b. 1952) is an American avant-garde composer, guitarist, and trumpet player. He currently lives in France.

Related Topics:
American - Avant-garde - Guitar - Trumpet - France

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In the early 1970s Chatham was the first music director of The Kitchen in New York. His early compositions owed a significant debt to La Monte Young and other minimalists.

Related Topics:
1970s - The Kitchen - New York - La Monte Young - Minimalists

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By 1977, Chatham's music was heavily influenced by punk rock, particularly no wave. That year, he began performing Guitar Trio around downtown Manhattan with an ensemble that included Glenn Branca. During this period he wrote several works for large guitar ensembles, including Drastic Classicism, a collaboration with dancer Karole Armitage.

Related Topics:
Punk rock - No wave - Glenn Branca - Karole Armitage

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Chatham began taking trumpet lessons in the 1980s, and his more recent works explore improvisatory trumpet solos (performed by the composer) over synthesized dance rhythms. In 2002, he enjoyed a small resurgence following the release of the boxed set An Angel Moves Too Fast to See, whose title comes from Chatham's composition for 100 guitars.

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