Denis Smalley
Encyclopedia
Denis Arthur Smalley is a composer
of electroacoustic music
, with a special interest in acousmatic music
.
, with the Groupe de Recherches Musicales (GRM), and at the University of York, in England, where he has lived since 1971. He also studied with Musique concrète
pioneer François Bayle
.
He initially composed onto tape, but as early as the 1980s realised his works using computer software. His composition Pentes (1974) is regarded as one of the classics of electroacoustic music. Source sounds for his works may come from the environment—and are often the starting point for his pieces—but he may also develop highly sophisticated timbres from scratch using computer software. He describes his approach as "spectromorphological
", featuring the development of sounds in time.
A lecturer at the University of East Anglia
, England, from 1976 to 1994, he has been professor of music at City University, London
since 1994, where he currently teaches electroacoustic
composition and is the Head of the Music Department.
His music has been performed around the world and most of his major works appear on commercially-released CDs.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of electroacoustic music
Electroacoustic music
Electroacoustic music originated in Western art music during its modern era following the incorporation of electric sound production into compositional practice. The initial developments in electroacoustic music composition during the mid-20th century are associated with the activities of composers...
, with a special interest in acousmatic music
Acousmatic music
Acousmatic music is a form of electroacoustic music that deals specifically with acousmatic sound as a compositional resource. The practice has a historical basis in musique concrète. It can be created using non-acoustic technology, exists only in a recorded format , and is composed for reception...
.
Biography
Denis Smalley studied at the University of Canterbury and Victoria University in his native New Zealand, and later at the Paris Conservatoire with Olivier MessiaenOlivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
, with the Groupe de Recherches Musicales (GRM), and at the University of York, in England, where he has lived since 1971. He also studied with Musique concrète
Musique concrète
Musique concrète is a form of electroacoustic music that utilises acousmatic sound as a compositional resource. The compositional material is not restricted to the inclusion of sounds derived from musical instruments or voices, nor to elements traditionally thought of as "musical"...
pioneer François Bayle
François Bayle
François Bayle is a composer of Musique concrète or acousmatic music.In the 1950s he studied with Olivier Messiaen, Pierre Schaeffer and Karlheinz Stockhausen. In 1960 he joined the Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française, and in 1966 was put in charge of the Groupe de Recherches Musicales...
.
He initially composed onto tape, but as early as the 1980s realised his works using computer software. His composition Pentes (1974) is regarded as one of the classics of electroacoustic music. Source sounds for his works may come from the environment—and are often the starting point for his pieces—but he may also develop highly sophisticated timbres from scratch using computer software. He describes his approach as "spectromorphological
Spectromorphology
Spectromorphology is the perceived sonic footprint of a sound spectrum as it manifests in time. A descriptive spectromorphological analysis of sound is sometimes used in the analysis of electroacoustic music, especially acousmatic music...
", featuring the development of sounds in time.
A lecturer at the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
, England, from 1976 to 1994, he has been professor of music at City University, London
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
since 1994, where he currently teaches electroacoustic
Electroacoustic music
Electroacoustic music originated in Western art music during its modern era following the incorporation of electric sound production into compositional practice. The initial developments in electroacoustic music composition during the mid-20th century are associated with the activities of composers...
composition and is the Head of the Music Department.
His music has been performed around the world and most of his major works appear on commercially-released CDs.
Recordings
- Impacts intérieurs (empreintes DIGITALesEmpreintes DIGITALesempreintes DIGITALes is a record label founded in 1990 and based in Montreal which specialises in contemporary electroacoustic music, acousmatic and musique concrète.In 2005, empreintes DIGITALes shifted from CD to DVD-Audio.- Composers :* Mathew Adkins...
, IMED 0409, 2004) - Sources/scènes (empreintes DIGITALesEmpreintes DIGITALesempreintes DIGITALes is a record label founded in 1990 and based in Montreal which specialises in contemporary electroacoustic music, acousmatic and musique concrète.In 2005, empreintes DIGITALes shifted from CD to DVD-Audio.- Composers :* Mathew Adkins...
, IMED 0054, 2000) - Névé (Effects Input, EI 03, 1994)
- Tides (Ode RecordsOde RecordsOde Records was a record label, started by Lou Adler in 1967 after he sold Dunhill Records to ABC Records. It was distributed by CBS Records until 1969. Between 1970 and 1976 the label was distributed by A&M Records, from 1976 onward it was again distributed by CBS Records.Adler deactivated the...
, MANU 1433, 1993) - Impacts intérieurs (empreintes DIGITALesEmpreintes DIGITALesempreintes DIGITALes is a record label founded in 1990 and based in Montreal which specialises in contemporary electroacoustic music, acousmatic and musique concrète.In 2005, empreintes DIGITALes shifted from CD to DVD-Audio.- Composers :* Mathew Adkins...
, IMED 9209, 1992)
List of works
- Base Metals (2000)
- Berne Mobiles (1980), installation
- Clarinet Threads (1985), clarinet, and tape, received a Golden Nica (Ars Electronica, Linz, Austria) in 1988
- Darkness After Time's Colours (1976), received a Euphonie d'Or (Bourges competition) in 1992
- Empty Vessels (1997)
- Gradual (1974), amplified clarinets, and tape
- Névé (1994)
- Ouroboros (1975)
- O Vos Omnes (1986), eight-part choir, and tape
- Pentes (1974)
- Piano Nets (1990–91), piano, and tape
- Pneuma (1976, 81), amplified voices, and percussion
- The Pulses of Time (1979)
- Resounding (2004), 6-track tape
- Ringing Down the Sun (2002), 6-track tape
- Tides (1984)
- Valley Flow (1991–92)
- Vortex (1982)
- Wind Chimes (1987)
Further reading
- Paland, Ralph. 2009. "Denis Smalley". Komponisten der Gegenwart (KDG). 40. Nachlieferung (11/2009), Munich 2009, pages 1–2. ISBN 978-3-86916-010-8.