Ben Johnston (composer)
Benjamin Burwell Johnston Jr. (March 15, 1926 – July 21, 2019) was an American
Biography
Johnston was born in
Johnston began as a traditional composer of
Later, in 1957 and 1959, he studied with Cage,[6] who encouraged him to follow his desires and use traditional instruments rather than electronics or newly built instruments.[1] Unskilled in carpentry and finding electronics unreliable, Johnston struggled with how to integrate microtonality and conventional instruments for ten years. He also struggled with how to integrate microtones into his compositional language through a slow process of many stages.[3] However, since 1960 Johnston had almost exclusively used a system of microtonal notation based on the rational intervals of just intonation, what Gann describes as a "lifelong allegiance" to microtonality.[7] Johnston also studied with Burrill Phillips and Robert Palmer.[8]
Johnston composed music for multiple productions by the E.T.C. Company of La MaMa,
His other works included the orchestral work Quintet for Groups (commissioned by the
Johnston said:
Tempered tuning is not the acoustically simplest kind. In just tuning, any interval is tuned so as to eliminate 'beating' (the result of vibrations interfering with each other). Just intonation is the easiest to achieve by ear. In this kind of tuning, all intervals have vibration rates related by small whole-number ratios. The larger the integers of the ratio, the greater the dissonance.[12]
He received many honors, including a
Heidi Von Gunden wrote a monograph on the composer, and Bob Gilmore edited the composer's complete writings, which were published as "Maximum Clarity" and Other Writings on Music by the University of Illinois Press. A three-part oral history covering all stages of his career is housed at the Oral History of American Music through Yale University.
Johnston died from complications of Parkinson's disease in Deerfield, Wisconsin, on July 21, 2019.[14]
Music
He is best known for extending Harry Partch's experiments in just intonation tuning to traditional instruments through his system of notation.[citation needed]
Johnston's compositional style was eclectic. He used serial processes, folk song idioms (string quartets 4, 5, and 10), repetitive processes, traditional forms like fugue and variations, and intuitive processes.[15] His main goal was "to reestablish just intonation as a viable part of our musical tradition."[1] According to Mark Swed, "ultimately, what Johnston has done, more than any other composer with roots in the great American musical experiments of the '50s and '60s, is to translate those radical approaches to the nature of music into a music that is immediately apprehensible".[16]
Most of Johnston's later works use a large number of pitches, generated through just-intonation procedures. In these works he formed melodies based on an "
Johnston's early efforts in just composition drew heavily on the accomplishments of post-
Staff notation
Beginning in the 1960s, Johnston proposed an approach to notating music in just intonation (JI), redefining the understanding of conventional symbols (the seven "white" notes, along with the sharps and flats) and adding further
Though "this notation is not tied to any particular diapason" and the ratios between pitches remain constant, most of Johnson’s works used A = 440 as the tuning note, making C 264 hertz.[21][22] In Johnson’s notation a string quartet is tuned C−, G−, D−, A, E.
Recordings
- 2016: Ben Johnston: String Quartets Nos. 7, 8 & 6, Quietness – Kepler Quartet (New World Records CD-80730)
- String Quartet No. 7
- String Quartet No. 8
- String Quartet No. 6
- "Quietness" (string quartet and voice)
- 2014: Ben Johnston: Ruminations – Eclipse String Quartet, John Schneider (voice, microtonal guitar), Karen Clark (voice), Jim Sullivan (clarinet), Sarah Thornblade (violin) (MicroFest Records CD-5)
- "The Tavern"
- "Revised Standards"
- "Parable"
- 2011: Ben Johnston: String Quartets Nos. 1, 5 & 10 – Kepler Quartet (New World Records CD-80693)
- String Quartet No. 5
- String Quartet No. 10
- String Quartet No. 1, "Nine Variations"
- 2008: On Track: Commissions Vol. 2. – New Century Saxophone Quartet (Alanna Records ACD-6006, Pittsburgh)
- Includes Johnston's "O Waly Waly Variations"
- 2006: Ben Johnston: String Quartets Nos. 2, 3, 4 & 9 – Kepler Quartet (New World Records CD-80637)
- String Quartet No. 9
- Crossings: String Quartet No. 3
- Crossings: The Silence
- Crossings: String Quartet No. 4, "Amazing Grace"
- String Quartet No. 2
- 2005: Susan Fancher: Ponder Nothing (Innova Records)
- Includes Johnston's "Ponder Nothing"
- 2002: Cleveland Chamber Symphony. Vol. 1, 2 & 3 (Troppe Note Records)
- Includes Johnston's "Songs of Loss"
- 1997: Koch International Classics3-7369-2-H1)
- Includes Johnston's Suite for Microtonal Piano
- Includes Johnston's Sonata for Microtonal Piano
- Includes Johnston's "Saint Joan"
- 1996: Michael Cameron: Progression (Ziva Records)
- Includes Johnston's "Progression"
- 1993: Ponder Nothing: Chamber Music of Ben Johnston (New World Records 80432-2)
- Septet for woodwinds, horn, and strings
- "Three Chinese Lyrics"
- "Gambit:"
- "Five Fragments"
- Trio
- "Ponder Nothing"
- 1995: The Stanford Quartet (Laurel Records)
- Includes Johnston's String Quartet No. 9
- 1976: Sound Forms for Piano (LP record, New World Records NW-203)
- Includes Johnston's Sonata for Microtonal Piano
- 1995: The Kronos Quartet: Released (compilation, Nonesuch Records)
- Includes Johnston's String Quartet No. 4, "Amazing Grace"
- 1993: Urban Diva – Dora Ohrenstein (soprano), Composers Recordings IncorporatedCD-654)
- Includes Johnston's "Calamity Jane to Her Daughter"
- 1987: White Man Sleeps – Kronos Quartet (Elektra/Nonesuch 79163-2)
- Includes Johnston's String Quartet No. 4, "Amazing Grace"
- 1984: New Swingle Singers and New Vocal Workshop (Composers Recordings, Inc.)
- Includes Johnston's "Sonnets of Desolation"
- Includes Johnston's "Visions and Spels"
- 1983: The New World Quartet (Composers Recordings, Inc.)
- Includes Johnston's String Quartet No. 6
- 1980: The Fine Arts Quartet (Nonesuch Records)
- Includes Johnston's String Quartet No. 4, "Amazing Grace"
- 1979: Music from the University of Illinois (Composers Recordings, Inc.)
- Includes Johnston's Duo for flute and contrabass
- 1970: Carmilla: A Vampire Tale (Vanguard Records)
- 1969: John Cage & Lejaren Hiller – HPSCHD/ Ben Johnston – String Quartet No. 2. (LP record, Nonesuch Records H-71224)
- 1969: The Contemporary Contrabass - Bertram Turetzky, contrabass (LP record, Nonesuch Records H-71237)
- Includes Johnston's "Casta*"
- 1968: New Music Choral Ensemble – Kenneth Gaburo, conductor (LP record, Ars Nova/Ars Antiqua Records AN1005)
- Includes Johnston's "Ci-Git Satie"
Footnotes
- ^ a b c Bush 1997.
- ^ Rockwell, John. 1990. "Calamity Jane and Other Voices". The New York Times (October 14): 56.
- ^ a b c Gann 1995.
- ^ Bermel, Derek. 1995. "Ben Johnston: Interview with Derek Bermel, 1995", Paris Transatlantic (online edition, accessed 28 June 2009).
- ISBN 0-306-80893-5.
- ^ a b Von Gunden 1986, p. 22.
- ^ Gann 1995, p. 1.
- ^ Tyranny 2011; Von Gunden 1986.
- ^ "Production Photographs and Contact Sheet: "Carmilla"". La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. 1970. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Production Photograph: "Gertrude"". La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. 1970. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ New World Records. n.d. [full citation needed].
- ISBN 9780252030987.
- ^ Lamparter, Wolfram. 2008. [untitled article]. Newsletter (19 November): 1. Baden-Baden and Freiburg: SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg.
- ^ Kozinn, Allan. 2019. "Ben Johnston, Who Made Microtonal Music Melodic, Dies at 93", The New York Times.
- ^ Fonville 1991, pp. 120–121.
- ^ Swed 1995[page needed], quoted in Bush 1997.
- ISBN 0-252-03098-2p. xviii.
- ^ Rockwell, John. 1976. "Music: Concord Strings; Quartet Performs Pieces by Johnston, Foss and Rochberg at Tully Hall". The New York Times (March 17): 33.
- ^ Fonville 1991, p. 109.
- ^ Johnston 2006b, pp. 77–88.
- ^ Johnston 2006b, p. 77.
- ^ Fonville 1991, p. 136n3.
References
- Bush, Phillip. 1997. Liner notes (unpaginated) to Microtonal Piano by Ben Johnston. Phillip Bush, piano. Koch International Classics 3-7369-2. Port Washington, NY: Koch International. [Quotes The New Grove Dictionary of American Music and critic Mark Swed.]
- Fonville, John. 1991. "Ben Johnston's Extended Just Intonation: A Guide for Interpreters". Perspectives of New Music 29, no. 2 (Summer): 106–137.
- Gann, Kyle. 1995. Music Amici: Ben Johnston: Ponder Nothing. New World Records. Cat. No.: 80432. Liner notes.
- Johnston, Ben. 2006b. "A Notation System for Extended Just Intonation" (2003). In Ben Johnston, "Maximum Clarity" and Other Writings on Music, edited by Bob Gilmore, 77–88. ISBN 978-0-252-03098-7.
- Swed, Mark. 1995. "Ben Johnston". Chamber Music Magazine (March):[full citation needed]
- Tyranny, "Blue" Gene. 2011. "Ben Johnston: Biography", AllMusic.com.
- ISBN 0-8108-1907-4.
Further reading
- Elster, Steven. 1991. "A Harmonic and Serial Analysis of Ben Johnston's String Quartet No. 6". Perspectives of New Music 29, no. 2 (Summer): 138–165.
- Gilmore, Bob. 1995. "Changing the Metaphor: Ratio Models of Musical Pitch in the Work of Harry Partch, Ben Johnston, and James Tenney". Perspectives of New Music 33, nos. 1–2 (Winter-Summer): 458–503.
- Johnson, Timothy Ernest. 2008. "13-limit Extended Just Intonation in Ben Johnston's String Quartet Number 7 and Toby Twining's Chrysalid Requiem, Gradual/Tract". University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- Johnston, Ben, and Sylvia Smith. 2006. Who Am I? Why Am I Here?: Ben Johnston Reflects on his Life in Music. Baltimore: Smith Publications.
- Johnston, Sibyl. 2007. "Very Precise Relationships: Two Interviews with Ben Johnston". American Music25, no. 2 (Summer): 169–192.
- Kassel, Richard. 2001. "Johnston, Ben(jamin Burwell)". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell. London: Macmillan Publishers.
- Maltz, Richard Steven. 1991. "Microtonal Techniques in PhD thesis. University of South Carolina.
- Ratliff, Phillip. 2002. "How Sweet the Sound". Living Music 18, no. 1 (Fall): 8–9.
- Schneider, John (ed.) 2007. "Ben Johnston at Eighty". 1/1: The Journal of the Just Intonation Network 12, no. 3 (Johnston birthday volume).
- Shinn, Randall. 1977. "Ben Johnston's Fourth String Quartet". Perspectives of New Music 15, no. 2 (Spring-Summer): 145–173.
- Stahnke, Manfred. 2015. "Ben Johnston: Microtonal Piano Sonata. Klavierstimmung als Fessel und Freiheit – Anmerkungen zu Ben Johnstons Sonata for Microtonal Piano". MusikTexte 144, (February): 87-.
- Stahnke, Manfred. 2022. "Ben Johnston, sein Just-Intonation-Denken und seine Notation an einem Extrempunkt: Beispiele aus seinem String Quartet No. 7 (1984), 3. Satz". Musik & Ästhetik 104: 22-38.
- Taylor, Mark R. 2002. "Ben Johnston: Suite; Sonata; Saint Joan. Phillip Bush (piano); Koch International Classics 3-7369-2-H1; Ben Johnston: Chamber Music. Music Amici. New World Records 80432-2". Tempo, new series, no. 220 (April): 54–55. ((subscription required), accessed 1 April 2009.)
- Zimmermann, Walter. 2020. Desert Plants – Conversations with 23 American Musicians, Berlin: Beginner Press in cooperation with Mode Records (originally published in 1976 by A.R.C., Vancouver). The 2020 edition includes a cd featuring the original interview recordings with Larry Austin, Robert Ashley, Jim Burton, John Cage, Philip Corner, Morton Feldman, Philip Glass, Joan La Barbara, Garrett List, Alvin Lucier, John McGuire, Charles Morrow, J.B. Floyd (on Conlon Nancarrow), Pauline Oliveros, Charlemagne Palestine, Ben Johnston (on Harry Partch), Steve Reich, David Rosenboom, Frederic Rzewski, Richard Teitelbaum, James Tenney, Christian Wolff, and La Monte Young.
External links
- Ben Johnston at Plainsound Music Edition
- "Ben Johnston" on the Living Composers Project
- "A New Dissonance" : video interviews with Johnston, blog entries, documentary footage of rehearsals of String Quartet No. 10 by the Kepler Quartet
- Ben Johnston at UNC (Greensboro) symposium Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine: autobiographical lecture describing his early music influences and his interest in microtonal music and just intonation
- Interview with Ben Johnston (April 7, 1987)
- Johnston's page on La MaMa Archives Digital Collections
Listening
- Casta Bertram, Bertram Turetzky (NonesuchRecords, 1969) FLAC and liner notes MP3
- String Quartet No. 2, Composers Quartet (Nonesuch, 1969) FLAC and liner notes MP3
- String Quartet no. 6, New World Quartet (Composers Recordings Inc., 1983) liner notes MP3: click on "Johnston 01.mp3"
- Sonnets of Desolation, New Swingle Singers and New Vocal Workshop (Composers Recordings Inc., 1984) liner notes MP3: click on "Johnston 02.mp3"
- Visions and Spels, New Swingle Singers and New Vocal Workshop (Composers Recordings Inc., 1984) liner notes MP3: click on "Johnston 03.mp3" for part 1; click on "Johnston 04.mp3" for part 2