SUMMER/FALL 2023
Department of Music
Cover photo by Jeff Liang of Kartik Sundaram, BA Music and BS Biopsychology ‘23 at UCSB 2023 Commencement. Inside cover photo of Margaret Rodenburg (BM ‘23, Flute) and Alexis Mancilla (BM ‘23 Flute) at UCSB 2023 Commencement. 2 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter
C o nte nts Message from the Chair
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Congratulations Graduates of 2022 - 2023
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Spring 2023 Concert Series Highlights
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Ethnomusicology Forum Highlights
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AlloSphere Premiere Man in the Mangroves Counts to Sleep premieres at UCSB
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Students of Note Crescendo for a Cause, Diego Ratto, Dylan Rodgers, Cloe Gentile Reyes, UCSB Horn Quintet
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Faculty of Note 26 Curtis Roads publishes Second Edition textbook, João Pedro Oliviera named Guggenheim Fellow 2023, Marth Sprigge Awarded Research Grants In Memory of Clarence Barlow
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Meet your Music Staff
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Stay Connected!
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4 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter
Me s sa ge fro m the Ch a i r Hello everyone, I am delighted to introduce myself as the new Chair of the Music Department. As the Argyropoulos Chair in Hellenic Studies I regularly organize public events that promote Greek culture, including music lectures and concerts. This year is the centennial anniversary of the birth of Maria Callas, and through the generosity of the Argyropoulos family I’ve partnered with Opera Santa Barbara to present a lecture by the chief biographer of the legendary diva, and a concert of the greatest hits from Callas’ repertoire, to which everyone is warmly invited, both at the Lobero theater: La Divina: The Art of Maria Callas. I’ve also written a book about Dolly Parton (Jad Abumrad, co-host of the award-winning podcast, Dolly Parton’s America, called me ‘the original Dollyologist’: Listen to the episode. I’ve taken on the role of music department chair partly because of my commitment to music, but also to strengthen department procedures, as part of the university’s regular system of sharing of good practice across departments. I’m so impressed by the talent, creativity, and verve of the department’s faculty and students. This is a taxing year for the department because we are ousted from our usual spaces as the buildings undergo seismic retrofitting. We are grateful to the exceptional music department staff for keeping the show on the road, and to all of our alumni, donors, and audiences for your generous support. Some excellent news: Arts and Lectures are offering free tickets for music majors to four concerts this Fall (for info click here) and Opera Santa Barbara have free tickets to any Opera Santa Barbara concert for all UCSB students and anyone else who cannot afford tickets. (Email Artistic and General Director Kostis Protopapas with your request: kostis@operasb.org). We are grateful to everyone who has made this possible. Wishing you a productive and harmonious term - be diamonds in a rhinestone world, as Dolly would say…
Helen Morales UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter | 5
Congratulations Department of Music Graduates Summer 2022 - Spring 2023 Graduate Students Doctor of Musical Arts Erik Lawrence | Doctor of Musical Arts in Keyboard
Doctor of Philosophy Jillian Fischer | Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology Jared Holton | Doctor of Philosophy in Ethnomusicology† Alexander Karvelas | Doctor of Philosophy in Ethnomusicology† Kevin McBrien | Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology Heena Yoon | Doctor of Philosophy in Composition
Master of Music Sogol Aliabadi | Master of Music in Strings (Violin) Madison Babovec | Master of Music in Woodwinds and Brass (Horn) Sarah Bortz | Master of Music in Woodwinds and Brass (Flute) Gulia Gurevich | Master of Music in Strings (Violin) Valdis Jansons | Master of Music in Choral Conducting Naomi Stoodley | Master of Music in Strings (Cello) Steven Thomson | Master of Music in Choral Conducting Anjela Tokadjian | Master of Music in Keyboard
Master of Arts Noam Fields-Meyer | Master of Arts in Music Theory Drew Flieder | Master of Arts in Composition Chet Stussy | Master of Arts in Musicology
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Undergraduate Students Bachelor of Arts Lizbeth Barreda | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology Heather Cardoza de la Torre | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies Alex Castillo | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies (Western Art Music) and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology Jason Cathcart | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies Karlie Chen | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies Max Dei Rossi | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Jessica Flores | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies Ambar Gonzalez | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies Hannah Griffiths | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies Aaron Hsu | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies Nina Lim | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies (Western Art Music) and Bachelor of Arts in Communications Evelina McGary | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies (Western Art Music) Jesus Mejia Gallaga | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies and Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Data Science Dylan Rodgers | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies (Ethnomusicology) Darren Schoensee | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies Kartik Sundaram | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies and Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology Willie Tieu | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies (Western Art Music) Sean Tran | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies (Western Art Music) and Bachelor of Arts in Economics Danielle Uyemura | Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies (Western Art Music)
Bachelor of Music Alex Barak | Bachelor of Music in Woodwinds and Brass (Bassoon) Maria Calderon | Bachelor of Music in Composition and Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology Ivan Law | Bachelor of Music in Strings (Cello) Alexis Mancilla | Bachelor of Music in Woodwinds and Brass (Flute) Margaret Rodenburg | Bachelor of Music in Woodwinds and Brass (Flute)*** Daniel Thomas | Bachelor of Music in Composition Tiffany Yin | Bachelor of Music in Piano *Honors , **High Honors, ***Highest Honors † Certificate in College and University Teaching UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter | 7
Spring 2023 Concert Series Highlights
The Department of Music presented a full Spring Concert Series featu ensemble concerts, masterclasses and more.
UCSB Opera Catches Fire UCSB’s 2023 Opera production, “Burning to Sing,” was an inferno of entertainment this spring. Over three days, audiences were captivated by the comedic and charming characters along with a familiar compilation of early American operetta selections. On a summer afternoon of 2022, co-creators of the production Rebecca Renfro and Department of Music voice faculty member Benjamin Brecher visited dedicated friends of the music department, Michael and Nan Miller. During this visit, they shuffled through the immense Miller collection of operetta scores (which have been generously bequeathed to the UCSB Library) and came across the one-act opera titled Burning to Sing, or Singing to Burn composed by Gustave Kerker and librettist R.H. Burnside in 1904. The discovery of this tongue in cheek score inspired the parody of the UCSB’s 2023 “Burning to Sing” that had opera poke fun at opera in the most affectionate way. Directed by Samuel Mungo, “Burning to Sing” is set within a 1950s apartment building gradually succumbing to fire. The cast of colorful characters delivered impressive arias and performances that kept the audience eagerly anticipating each comedic moment. This operetta not only ended in flames, it left a lasting impression, evoking laughter and reminding everyone of the timeless charm of live performances and opera’s enduring appeal. A special thank you to the UCSB Library for their co-sponsorship and support of the production. Left: Christina Ramsey, Ariana Horner Sutherland, April Amante, Donors Michael and Nan Miller, Lorenzo Johnson Jr., Valdis Jansons, Colin Ramsey, Samuel Mungo, Kartik Sundaram, Olivia Barker, Shiqi Xu. Right: Opening act of “Burning to Sing”and highlights.
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APRIL AMANTE as Ma Tremolini and Jeanie, a BARKER as Joan Higgi / SHIQI “SADEE” XU as BENJAMIN BRECHER
uring an Operetta inferno,
adame Marguerita Tremolini and Jeanie, a voice student / ARIANA HORNER SUTHERLAND as Madame Marguerita a voice student / LORENZO JOHNSON JR. as Signor Edoardo Tremolini / CHRISTINA RAMSEY as Billie, the Bellboy / OLIVIA ins, a firewoman / COLIN RAMSEY as Thomassini, the landlord / VALDIS JANSONS as Sulpicio, Italian boyfriend of Madame s Sadee, the pianist / KARTIK SUNDARAM as Tom Harris, a fireman / SAMUEL MUNGO director / REBECCA RENFRO AND concept design / STACIE LOGUE costume designer / RICHARD CROY set and lighting designer Photos courtesy of Jeff Liang UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter | 9
Spring 2023 Concert Series Highlights
Photo of Adam Stanovic by Caroline Campeau
The Corwin Concert Series showcased an array of new acousmatic and visual music works this quarter. A guest lecture given by Adam Stanović, award-winning composer and performer, on composing acousmatic hymnes, followed by a concert of his moving works opened the series. The concert “A Night of Visual Music” presented in the creative arts district of downtown Santa Barbara at the Community Arts Workshop gave members of the community access to what innovative composers are working on, including our very own Corwin Chair of Composition, João Pedro Oliviera, 2023 Guggenheim fellow. The Kaleidoscope Ensemble performed a concert of thought-provoking works by contemporary composers, and closing the series was the Corwin Graduate Composers concert, featuring works of graduate student composers Raphael Radna, Alysia Michelle James, Drew Flieder, Dariush Derakhshani, and Yifeng Yvonne Yuan. In addition, The Corwin Awards for Excellence in Composition, juried by Federico Schumacher (University of Chile), Luis Naon (Paris Conservatory),and Mario Mary (Academie Rainier III, Monaco), were awarded to:
Graduate Division: Dariush Derakhshani, (d)evolution, Best Work for Chamber Ensemble Diego Ratto, Schomo, Best Electronic Music Dariush Derakshani, Sonar Eclipse, 1st - Special Category* Yifeng Yvonne Yuan, I Saw a Butterfly Nestled in a Bell, 1st - Special Category* Undergraduate Division: Graham Keeton, Bill’s Sun, Best Work for Chamber Ensemble *Special Category includes acousmatic works that will be featured on a studio recorded CD: Sonar Eclipse by Dariush Derakhshani I Saw a Butterfly Nestled in a Bell by Yifeng Yvonne Yuan
The World Music Series, presented by the Multicultural Center and Ethnomusicology program hosted free concerts every Wednesday at noon in the Music Bowl. Mariachis Las Olas kicked off the spring series by performing music from different regions in Mexico including corridos, rancheras, and boleros.The lunch hour was filled with dancing students, onlookers, and lively sounds filling the air under Storke Tower. The spirit of music continued every week with more guests including UCSB A Capella groups BFOM (Brothas From Other Mothas), an all male group & Raavani, a South Asian fusion group; the UCSB Jazz Combos led by Jon Nathan, the UCSB Music of India Ensemble, directed by Scott Marcus; the UCSB-based Jasmine Echo Chinese Ensemble; the UCSB Gamelan Ensemble, led by Richard North; and the UCSB Gospel Choir under the direction of Victor Bell. The diversity of performances, drawn from both traditional and contemporary sounds, showed the many ways in which music can bring community together. 10 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter
The UCSB Choirs, directed by Brent Wilson, held two concerts this quarter, “Let the Rain Kiss You” at Trinity Episcopal Church and “Lamb of God” performed at the Granada Theater. The UCSB Chamber Choir performed music set to the writings of Langston Hughes, Sara Teasdale, and Paul Éluard with music by Poulenc, Penderecki, Caroline Shaw, Ricky Ian Gordon, and Stevie Wonder. The UCSB Lumina and Gauchos Choirs were joined by community choir and orchestra Vocal Affinity in their “Lamb of God” concert“ conducted by UCSB DMA candidate David Lozano Torres. “Lamb of God” offered a new and unique take on the Passion story in that it’s told entirely through music and the perspective of those who walked with Jesus in his last days: Peter, John, Thomas, Mary and Martha of Bethany, Mary Magdalene and his Mother Mary. Each year, an estimated 4,000+ performers across the world participate in locally-produced performances of “Lamb of God” in places as far-reaching as the Netherlands, Romania, Buenos Aires and now Santa Barbara.
Photo courtesy of Brent Wilson
The UCSB Ensemble for Contemporary Music Spring Concert was a captivating evening that showcased the cutting-edge musical talents of both students and renowned composers. Under the skilled direction of Jonathan Moerschel, the concert offered a unique blend of innovative compositions that pushed the boundaries of contemporary music. The concert featured works by a lineup of innovative UCSB students and established composers, including UCSB composition student Martina Chen, Rodney Lister, Tomeka Reid, Graham Keeton, Julia Adolphe, Anna Clyne, and special guest Donald Crockett. Each composition brought forth a distinctive sonic landscape, as the ensemble skillfully navigated intricate and unconventional harmonies with experimental textures.The UCSB Young Artists String Quartet was also featured in the concert after a residency with special guest composer Donald Crockett. Their precision and synergy were evident as they tackled the complexities of Crockett’s String Quartet No. 4 “Traveling Symphony” captivating the audience with their collective musical maturity, while conveying the narrative piece meant to emulate the tenacity of the human spirit. Enjoy the performance here.
Photo of Young Artists String Quartet: Qiele (Cello) Guo, Zachary Hamilton, Shirley Shang, Gulia Gurevich UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter | 11
Spring 2023 Concert Series Highlights
The UCSB Jazz Ensemble had a busy quarter full of masterclasses, multiple community performances and their From the opening number “Out of Town” to the beautiful “Skylark”, the program presented only the best in imp pianist Nick Wrubel were featured on Ted Nash’s arrangement of “Windows”, a composition by the late-great C featured on director Jon Nathan’s arrangement of “The Emperor’s New Clothes”. Bassist Nathan McCall was fe Tanner Cassidy featured on the Bob Brookmeyer’s haunting arrangement of “Skylark”. A variety of the graduatin
Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Nina Lim was featured as vibraphonist, Latin percussionist, and vocalist throug the classic Nelson Riddle arrangement of “All of Me”, and Bella Holland, was a featured vocalist on Steven Feifk inventive arrangement of the standard “It Could Happen to You”. Both vocalists, along with drummer/percussion Combo, performing the ballad “Capullito de Aleli” and Salsa standard “Guarare”, as made famous by Ray Barre Day Sunshine” featuring vocals by both Bella and Nina, and rocking tenor saxophone solos by first year Erik Bea
This summer, the UCSB Jazz Ensemble performed to a sold-out house at SOHO Music Club in Downtown Santa of student jazz musicians. Along with featured performances by vocalists Nina Lim, Bella Holland, and Gayane B (drums), Connor Lindsay (trumpet) and Masters of Music Flute Performance student Sarah Bortz. This is the seco year director Jon Nathan, has capped off the school year as guests of the Santa Barbara Jazz Society. In the au studio and jazz musician (Family Guy, the Simpsons, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra) who spontaneously played o audience and members of the band. We thank the Santa Barbara Jazz Society for their invitation and sponsorsh
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end of quarter concert “Out of Town”, a performance both featuring and celebrating their graduating students. portant, contemporary and newly written repertoire for large jazz ensemble. Graduate flutist Sarah Bortz and Chick Corea, and trumpeter Connor Lindsay, playing his self-constructed Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI), was eatured on the funky and quirky “Uncle Heavy’s Pork Chop Revue”, along with associate Jazz Ensemble director ng musicans each had their chance to showcase their unique strengths and talents.
ghout the concert, including a turn channeling Ella Fitzgerald on ke’s (2023 Grammy Winner, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album) nist Will Tran, were also featured performers with the Latin Jazz eto. The concert concluded with the rocking Beatles’ tune “Good ahrs and junior transfer student Leo Rubio.
a Barbara to cap off another banner year for UCSB’s community Baghramyan, they featured graduating students Will Tran ond year in a row that the ensemble, under the guidance of 28 udience was Los Angeles based bassist Kenny Wild, a veteran on the Antonio Carlos Jobim “Desafinado” to the delight of the hip, and look forward to more collaborations to come.”
Members of Wynton Marsalis band, Chris Lewis, Carlos Henriquez, and Abdias Armenteros (not pictured) visit (and are impressed by) the UCSB Jazz Ensemble.
Derek Douget Band, Victor Atkins, (piano), Ashlin Parker (trumpet), Jason Stewart (bass), Derek Douget (saxophone), Adonis Rose (drums) jam with the UCSB Jazz ensemble.
Left: Members of UCSB Jazz Ensemble at their SOHO performance. Photo courtesy of Rob Hoffman
Spring 2023 Concert Series Highlights
Some of UCSB Chamber Players’ members: Ellie Lim, Daniel Muñoz, Mia Paul, Blythe Davis, Naomi Villafaña, and Brandon Chen.
The UCSB Chamber Players delivered a delightful year-end concert, showcasing a diverse selection of musical pieces. The repertoire included a charming Debussy piano duo, Ravel’s Ma Mère L’Oye, Mozart’s Duo No.1 in G-major, Fernand de la Tombelle’s Suite for Three Cellos, Alexander Glazunov’s String Quintet in A-major, and Schubert’s evocative “Death and the Maiden.” The musical journey continued with a captivating viola duo composed by Carl Stamitz, Mendelssohn’s expressive String Quartet in F-minor Op. 80, and David Maslanka’s resonant Quintet No. 3, performed by the Nuñes Scholarship Woodwind Quintet. The evening reached its pinnacle with Florence Beatrice Price’s moving Piano Quintet in A-Minor, followed by Brahms’ profound Trio in A-Minor Op. 114, bringing the concert to a memorable close.
Additionally, the students in the strings program were privileged to partake in an intimate masterclass led by Frederik Øland (violin) and Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen (violin) from the esteemed Danish String Quartet visiting with Arts & Lectures. This opportunity gave students a chance to showcase what they had been working on in preparation for the end of quarter concerts. Noteworthy undergraduate performers Daniel Muñoz, Shifa LeducAkbar, Bridget Boland, and Andrew Hart presented the first movement of Grażyna Bacewicz’s String Quartet No. 4 for the visiting artists. Then the accomplished graduate students of UCSB’s Young Artists String Quartet: Gulia Gurevich, Shirley Shang, Zachary Hamilton, and Qiele (Cello) Guo delivered Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden” that they had been working on for the endof-year concert to get masterful tips from the members Members of Danish String Quartet, Frederik Øland and Rune of DSQ. The artisitic collaboration left a mark on the Tonsgaard Sørensen in masteclass with strings students. students for a wonderful rest of their academic year. Photo: Alessandra Villegas Led by Richard North, the UCSB Gamelan Ensemble, joined by the Santa Barbara community group Gamelan Sinar Surya demonstrated an ancient style of gamelan from Cirebon, West Java, featuring dynamic drumming, delicate melodies, and lively interlocking rhythms. Transcending the audience while educating them with the Indonesian traditions of the celebrated gong orchestra, it was a fantastic afternoon of cultural experience.
Members of Gamelan Sinur Surya performing a traditional mask dance and song. Photo courtesy of Richard North 14 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter
The UCSB Wind Ensemble’s concert “Uneven Landscapes” was an enchanting musical journey under the baton of Andy Radford, with the invaluable contribution of Madison Babovec as Graduate Assistant. The collaboration with the UCSB Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Jon Nathan added an extra layer of depth and rhythm to the evening’s offerings. From the opening power of Samuel R. Hazo’s “Ride” to the introspective beauty of Joni Greene’s “Moonscape Awakening,” the evening explored a range of emotions as to be expected given the concert name. “Cantina Band” by John Williams, arranged by Jon Nathan, added a touch of cinematic nostalgia with its playful energy followed by John Mackey’s “Undertow”. “Blaze” by Steve Rouse ignited the stage with its fiery melodies and vibrant rhythms. The Percussion Ensemble continued to impress with the rich tapestry of sound in“Balalaika,” a Russian folk-medley arranged by William L. Cahn. “October” by Eric Whitacre enveloped the audience in a sense of ethereal serenity and the evening concluded with “Rocky Point Holiday” by Ron Nelson, a lively and energetic piece that showcased the ensemble’s virtuosity. Watch the performance here.
Under the leadership of Maxim Kuzin the UCSB Chamber Orchestra lit up Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall at their spring concert. The performance commenced with Beethoven’s powerful Die Ruinen von Athen (The Ruins of Athens) Overture followed by Felix Mottl’s meticulous arrangement of Gluck’s Ballet Suite No.1, leaving listeners immersed in a charming tapestry woven out of baroque era dance melodies. A special highlight of the evening -- UCSB composition student Martina Chen’s masterful composition “For That Which Has Been Forgotten”-- a resonating experience reaching deep into the memories of one’s childhood connecting the past with the modern. The grand finale of the night: Smetana’s thrilling Vltava (The Moldau) tone poem. A charming evening filled with classical and contemporary music intertwined in perfection. Enjoy the performance here.
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Spring 2023 Concert Series Highlights The UCSB Middle East Ensemble had a colorful end-ofyear concert that featured a variety guest vocalists and dancers that celebrated a wide range of middle eastern cultures. Directed by founder Scott Marcus, joined by the ensemble’s percussion director Sue Rudnicki, and dance company director Alexandra King, the production offered entertainment from multiple areas. UCSB senior Jena Chakoukani performed a set of songs by the renowned Syrian singer Sabah Fakhri (1933 Photo of singer and UCSB senior Jena Chakoukani performing at the UCSB Middle East Ensemble concert – 2021) and a second set of songs by the Lebanese superstar Fairouz (b. 1935). Rivka Amado, visiting Faculty of the UCSB Political Science Department, presented two Sephardic songs. In addition, Javid John, solo vocalist, debuted his new composition in response to the recent demonstrations in Iran; Andrea Fishman, solo vocalist, presented two additional Sephardic songs; and the Ensemble chorus presented a Turkish version of a famous Greek song. As always, the Ensemble’s Dance Company performed a wonderful variety of dances, from Arab, Armenian, and Greek cultures, with choreographies by Tom Bozigian, Alexandra King, and Jenaeni Rathor. Special guest Laura Leyl ended the concert with a Turkish-style dance finale. The evening was a festivity of events and guests, showcasing diversity that captivated the audience. Also under the direction of Scott Marcus, the Music of India Ensemble presented a concert of Northern Indian classical music for sitar and tabla. The performance featured rag Bhupali and rag Bageshri songs with a special kathak (North Indian classical dance) by Esha Shrivastava. Directed by Victor Bell, the UCSB Gospel Choir presented their spring concert “Celebrating 25 Years Honoring My Mentors” featuring special guests Theo Wilkins and Kadmiel Siler. After 25 years of instruction, Victor Bell curated an evening with traditional and contemporary spirituals written by and dedicated to his mentors: Calvin Rhone, V. Michael McKay, Dr. Margaret P. Douroux, Dr. Norman Hutchins, Quincy Fielding Jr , Ezell Bell and Mary J. Sangster. Unforgettable solos featuring Michele Ohwobete, Calvin Rhone, and Norman Hutchins shook the foundation of Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall. The amount of energy emanating off the stage and the energetic passion the UCSB Gospel Choir gave was palpable.
Spring 2023 Ethnomusicology Forums This spring quarter of 2023, the Department of Music’s Ethnomusicology program along with Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Music (CISM) and other university contributors hosted a series of captivating events that delved into diverse aspects of music and culture. These events offered attendees a profound exploration of music’s role in shaping society by profound speakers and ethnomusicologists from all around the globe. One of the first guests in the EthnoForum Series was Farzaneh Hemmasi from the University of Toronto presented “Live, Die, Repeat: Burying and Resurrecting Iranian Pop Stars in Southern California.” This 16 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter
thought-provoking discussion examined diasporic cultural productions involving deceased Iranian pop musicians from the Pahlavi era. Hemmasi explored how practices of memorialization and mediaenabled resurrection countered the finality of death while embedding national heritage in California. These practices were deeply intertwined with expatriate life, diaspora politics, and nostalgia for the era of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Through ethnographic fieldwork in the vibrant “Tehrangeles” Iranian pop music scene, the presentation showcased creative responses such as celebrity impersonators, a hologram of Hayedeh, and the significance of Southern Californian Iranian gravesites. Students pictured with Farzaneh Hemmasi (middle) and professor Scott Marcus and associate professor David Novak.
Andrea F. Bohlman from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill presented “Field Recording and the Tape Revolution.” Bohlman’s talk explored the historical significance of magnetic tape in academic field recording, transcending disciplines like ethnomusicology. She highlighted early reel-to-reel recording’s impact on academic sound documentation, discussing state-funded ethnomusicological projects that aimed to “catalog humanity.” Bohlman examined pivotal moments where sound and tape posed challenges, emphasizing the ethical and practical implications of tape recording. Her research extended into the afterlives of these tapes, revealing tape recording as an infrastructure that shaped the practice and ethics of ethnomusicology.
Andrea F. Bohlman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Timothy D. Taylor, UCLA
Timothy D. Taylor, a professor at UCLA, presented “Making Musicians Productive Laborers.” Taylor’s presentation delved into the intersection of capitalism and the music industry, focusing on music managers who function as architects of a musician’s career. These managers assist musicians in building teams and audiences, transforming their creative work into scalable ventures. Taylor employed Anna Tsing’s concept of scalability to analyze how music managers navigate the challenges of making musicians productive laborers within the capitalist framework.
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Spring 2023 Ethnomusicology Forums Wajid Yaseen, a Manchester-born, London-based artist renowned for his interdisciplinary approach to sound-based creations, led the audience into a unique exploration of communication and migration. The “Tape Letters” project illuminated the practice of recording and sending messages on cassette tapes, shedding light on the experiences of Pakistanis who migrated and settled in the UK between 1960-1980. Drawing from first-hand interviews and the intimate conversations captured on these cassette tapes, the project aimed to unearth, archive, and represent a vivid portrait of this Wajid Yaseen unconventional mode of communication. Primarily practiced by Pothwari-speaking members of the British-Pakistani community, the project delved into their experiences of migration and identity, the innovative use of cassette tape technology, and the rich language employed in these recordings. As the Creative Director of the sound art research cooperative Modus Arts, Yaseen has continually pushed the boundaries of sonic art through installations, live performances, acousmatic music, graphic scores, and sound sculptures. His diverse body of work includes roles such as co-founder of the destructivist Scrapclub project and director of the Ear Cinema project. With an academic background in Arts and Design, specializing in Sonic Arts, Yaseen’s work has graced prestigious venues and galleries like the ICA Gallery, Arnolfini, Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Whitechapel Gallery, Laban, and the Freud Museum. The Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Music (CISM) also held a two day symposium, “Listening to Cumbia” bringing together scholars, filmmakers, artists, and archivists for a symposium, screening, and DJ event on the contemporary cultural and political history of cumbia music in Mexico and the United States. Cumbia – as transnational record circulation and as local sound system dance scenes – is a living culmulture that provides insight into the cross-border effects of this popular music as force of social identity and mode of communication among Latinx communities. Juan David Rubio Restrepo
The screening featured two documentaries on cumbia sonidera in Mexico City and Los Angeles: Joyce García’s Yo No Soy Guapo (2018) and the premiere of Alvaro Parra’s “Sonidero Metropolis” (2023). Yo No Soy Guapo is a heartfelt and authentic portrait of Tepito, one of Mexico City’s proudest barrios. In her debut feature-length documentary, Veracruz-based filmmaker Joyce García focuses on cumbia sonidera (sound system cumbia), a record-based dance music scene performed in the street on locallymade sound systems. As the city begins to gentrify, prohibitions on street dances by local government threaten to shut down parties and public gatherings. Yo No Soy Guapo was awarded the Incentive Program for Cinematographic Creators of the Mexican Institute of Cinematography in the “project development” modality in 2015 and won first place in the Guanajuato’s International Film Festival. 18 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter
“Sonidero Metropolis” (2023, 22 minutes) is the first episode in Alvaro Parra’s documentary series about Mexican sound system culture. This episode explores the connection between the cumbia epicenter of Puebla, Mexico, and Los Angeles, California, a city where thousands of Poblanos now reside. This film depicts themes of migration, cumbia music, and labor, examined via the lives of two sonideros at opposite ends of their trajectories. Antonio De Jesus, better known as Sonido Fantasma, has been a working sonidero for 31 years. A consummate veteran at the top of his game, he often plays in cities across the U.S. and Mexico. Seventeen-year-old Gardena resident Abimael Amaro, aka Sonido Profeta, played his first show at LA’s Salon Lazaro’s at the age of thirteen. Sonido Profeta is part of a new generation of sonideros that utilizes livestream technology to make a name for themselves in the U.S. and abroad. Filmmakers Joyce García and Alvaro Parra joined moderator Alexandra Lippman (Pomona College) for a post-screening discussion. These events continue to offere a rich tapestry of insights into the multifaceted world of ethnomusicology and its connections to culture, memory, technology, and capitalism.
From the “Listening to Cumbia” symposium: Juan David Rubio Restrepo, David Novak, Alvaro Parra, Roberto Rodriguez, Joyce García, Mirjam Wirz, Alexandra Lippmann, Gary Garay.
An AlloSphere Premiere The UCSB AlloSphere Research Facility hosted the premiere of “THE MAN IN THE MANGROVES COUNTS TO SLEEP,” a thirteen-minute digital surround-sound opera-novella based on the poem of the same title. The production featured a collaboration between James A. Moorer, a renowned composer, Donna Decker, a gifted librettist, and Ralph Guggenheim, a highly-acclaimed producer. On May 31, a full house got to experience a whole new world of sound and storytelling in this unique and innovative production. The UCSB AlloSphere was the perfect venue for this performance, with its immersive and interactive design providing a fully realized and unforgettable experience. The facility’s surround-sound capabilities and 360-degree projection system allowed the audience to become fully immersed in the story and its setting. James A. Moorer, a highly regarded composer, having worked with numerous artists and institutions, including the Stanford University Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics, gave a talk before the audience entered the AlloSphere. He introduced the origins and work behind this collaborative and creative production and invited the viewers into this artistic journey. His use of the AlloSphere’s technology created a sonic environment exploring timbral extrapulations of the human voice and ethereal soundscapes that transported the audience to the world of the “Man in the Mangroves”. The librettist of this production, Donna Decker, is a gifted writer with a knack for capturing the nuances of human emotions and weaving them into compelling narratives. Her poetry offered an empathetic account of the “Man in the Mangroves” that mesmerized the audience and left a lasting impression. Producer, Ralph Guggenheim, is a true master of his craft which is apparent in this dizzying tale of a man. With decades of experience in the entertainment industry, he has worked on Composer James A. Moorer and UCSB AlloSphere creator Dr. JoAnn Kucherasome of the most iconic movies and shows Morin at the premiere. of all time, including the legendary Pixar movie “Toy Story.” His expertise in creating captivating and visually stunning productions elevated the overall experience of “Man in the Mangroves”. Not only did “THE MAN IN THE MANGROVES COUNTS TO SLEEP” feature world-class talent, but it was also performed in one of the most unique and innovative venues in the world, the UCSB AlloSphere.
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Created by UCSB faculty member Dr. JoAnn Kuchera-Morin, the AlloSphere is a three-story spherical structure that is entirely immersive and interactive. It is equipped with advanced computing and audiovisual technologies that allow performers, researchers, and audiences to experience sound and visuals in a way that is truly unparalleled. “We were thrilled to host the premiere of ‘THE MAN IN THE MANGROVES COUNTS TO SLEEP’ at the UCSB AlloSphere Research Facility,” said Dr. JoAnn Kuchera-Morin, “This production was such a unique and unforgettable experience for all those who attended. We are excited to share this innovative performance, and hopefully many more with the world.”
“Walking into the AlloSphere feels like walking on a floating bridge inside of a cloud”
Composer James A. Moorer speaking to a full house before heading up into the AlloSphere for the viewing of “The Man in the Mangroves Counts to Sleep”.
UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter | 21
Students of Note
Crescendo for a Cause: Expanding Music Opportunities in the Santa Barbara Community Crescendo for a Cause, a prominent non-profit organization on the UC Santa Barbara campus, is gearing up for an exciting Fall 2023. Their mission is to improve music education in underserved areas and to utilize music performance as a vehicle for advocacy and community service. With a focus on music mentorship programs and engaging concerts for seniors, Crescendo for a Cause is actively seeking music enthusiasts and students from UC Santa Barbara to join their cause. Allen Beckwith, Kiran Mohan and Jonathan Raymond founded the non-profit in 2018 at Stevenson High School in Illinois. The UCSB Members of Crescendo for a Cause after a performance chapter was later founded by Sam Wang at Heritage House. Courtesy of Anna Olson and Kenneth (Ken) Yang in September 2020. Crescendo for a Cause UCSB is the largest and most active chapter within the organization. In December 2020, they released their first virtual performance. This past year, they were excited to perform live at Heritage House and Friendship Manor, two retirement homes close to UCSB. Former president Ken graduated in Spring 2023 as an economics major. He has a musical background in piano and percussion, and additionally releases pop and hip hop songs under the alias imKENNETHY. Current president, Karis Lee (BM ‘24) is a viola performance major studying for her masters with Jonathan Moerschel. She is regularly involved in UCSB’s various string ensembles such as the UCSB Chamber music program, the UCSB Chamber Orchestra, and the Ensemble for Contemporary Music. Karis has been involved with organizing senior concerts as well as the pilot mentorship program at La Patera Elementary School.
“It’s been deeply rewarding sharing my passion for music to connect with others and build community, whether that is with my friends at Crescendo, the seniors at Heritage House, or with 4th-6th graders at La Patera who are learning how to play an instrument for the first time. I’m so excited that our chapter has greatly expanded this past year, and that we have been able to make a musical community for both majors and nonmajors alike!”
- Karis Lee, BM ‘24
Over the past quarter, Crescendo for a Cause has collaborated with the Goleta Union School District (GUSD) to provide instrumental music lessons to students in the after-school program at La Patera Elementary. This mentorship program has been a resounding success, allowing aspiring young musicians to explore their musical talents and foster their passion for music.
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Due to the program’s success, Crescendo for a Cause has been given the incredible opportunity by GUSD to expand their mentorship program to other schools within the district. This expansion opens doors for even more students to receive the gift of music education and mentorship, providing a platform for their artistic growth and personal development. With the expansion of their mentorship program, Crescendo for a Cause is actively seeking music mentors to join their team. As a music mentor, you will have the opportunity to inspire and guide young students on their musical journeys, helping them unlock their full potential. This experience not only fosters a strong sense of community engagement, but also provides mentors with invaluable teaching and leadership skills. “It is incredibly rewarding to pass music on to younger generations, especially those who might not have the resources to have music lessons,” says Allison Park (BM, BS ‘26), a Statistics & Data Science and Clarinet Performance Double Major. Over the past year, Allison has been a clarinet mentor at La Patera Elementary, and will serve as one of the mentorship coordinators in the upcoming year. “In my own journey of learning music, I have gained many skills, such as goal-setting, creativity, self confidence, and how to communicate with others, and I have gotten the opportunity to give that back to the community through mentorship.”
If you are a UC Santa Barbara student with a passion for music and a desire to make a positive impact on young lives, Crescendo for a Cause invites you to become a music mentor. By joining this mentorship program, you will have the chance to share your expertise, cultivate lasting relationships, and contribute to the growth of the next generation of musicians. In addition to their music mentorship program, Crescendo for a Cause organizes concerts at local senior homes in Goleta and Santa Barbara. These concerts bring the joy of music directly to the elderly, providing them with uplifting and memorable experiences. The performances not only entertain but also create an opportunity for intergenerational connection and mutual appreciation. “During and after our concerts, the senior residents really appreciated the performances, no matter what technical difficulties we might have had,” writes Julia Ong (BS‘24), the chapter’s Director of Social Events and a College of Creative Studies Chemistry Major who performs the carillon. “At the most recent concert I got to talk to one woman who told me how she used to play the flute and still enjoys listening to live concerts. This connection was really encouraging, and I’m looking forward to our concerts next year.” Crescendo for a Cause is poised to make a significant impact in the Santa Barbara community during Fall 2023 through their music mentorship program and concerts at local senior homes. By expanding their mentorship program to other schools in the Goleta Union School District, they are committed to nurturing the musical abilities and aspirations of young students. UC Santa Barbara music department students are encouraged to seize this opportunity to become music mentors, sharing their passion and knowledge with the next generation. Whether you are an instrumentalist, vocalist, or have a keen interest in music education and community outreach, Crescendo for a Cause offers a supportive platform to share your talents, connect with others, and make a meaningful impact.
Through their dedication to music education and community engagement, Crescendo for a Cause is truly making a difference, one note at a time. Email Karis to join their cause and be a part of the transformative power of music in the Santa Barbara community. UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter | 23
Students of Note
Diego Ratto - UCSB Composer Earns Global Acclaim and Recognition Diego Ratto, a dedicated composition student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is making significant strides in the fields of classical electroacoustic music and NFT art. Recently, Ratto secured the 2nd Prize at the ULJUS competition in the classical electroacoustic music category, highlighting his skill and commitment to his craft. Beyond his competition success, Diego has been collaborating with a visual artist to create NFTs, resulting in displays on outdoor panels in Hong Kong’s bustling streets and New York’s Times Square. This innovative fusion of music and visual art has been noteworthy for its unique approach. His current work is exhibited in Dubai, with another exhibition scheduled for Seoul this September. An ability to connect with diverse audiences across the globe through his compositions, his talent is a testament to the universality of his creative expression. Diego’s musical talents are also taking center stage. He is gearing up for acousmatic concerts in Saõ Paulo, Brazil, and various European cities during the summer and fall. Additionally, he is lending his musical expertise to the world of cinema by composing for upcoming short films premiering this fall. In the realm of academia, Diego’s selection for the International Computer Music Conference (ICMC) in Shenzhen, Hong Kong speaks volumes about his contributions to computer-generated music. Diego Ratto’s journey exemplifies the potency of creativity and collaboration. As he continues to innovate and inspire, his work bridges the realms of music and digital art, showcasing a promising future for this talented artist. Watch Diego Ratto’s NFT collaboration “Tempore” in Times Square, NY.
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Dylan Rodgers - UCSB Ethnomusicology student Tunes Us In With Recently Published Article Dylan Rodgers, Ethnomusicology ‘23 graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara, has recently achieved a significant accomplishment with the publication of his article titled “The Microtonal Guitar: Liberating Fretted Instruments from the Confines of 12-Tone Equal Temperament” by the American Musical Instrument Society. With a focus on Middle Eastern music and tuning intricacies, Dylan has been an active member of both the UCSB Middle East Ensemble and the UCSB Gamelan Ensemble. He has also explored unconventional tuning and temperament structures for the guitar, moving away from the conventional 12-tone equal temperament system to explore new sonic possibilities. His expertise in microtonal tuning led him to organize the UCSB Microtonal Guitar Workshop last March, providing a platform for musicians and scholars to delve into the nuances of microtonal music. After graduation, Dylan intends to spend much of the next year in Helsinki, Finland continuing his research and experimentation on microtonal music where he will be conducting this work through a research fellowship supported by the Myymälä Artistic Research Institute and the Kone Foundation. During his time in Helsinki, he will also be giving a number of workshops on microtonal guitar as well as leading a transcultural ensemble as a guest at the University of Arts, Sibelius Academy. Dylan’s commitment to cultural understanding and musical exploration is innovative, practical and an academic approach to music. His work exemplifies the intersection of musical curiosity and academic exploration, contributing to the convergence of tradition and experimentation in the world of guitar music. Read Dylan Rodgers’ article, “The Microtonal Guitar: Liberating Fretted Instruments from the Confines of 12-Tone Equal Temperament”
Cloe Gentile Reyes, Musicology PhD ‘23 Awarded NYU Faculty Fellowship This summer, not only did UCSB student Cloe Gentile Reyes defend her dissertation and graduate with a PhD in Musicology, she earned and was awarded a faculty fellowship at New York University. Cloe is dedicated to exploring U.S. Latinx and Puerto Rican music, fashion, and dance from the 20th to the 21st centuries. Her focus on themes of womanhood, Blackness, Indigeneity, and queerness in genres like bolero, salsa, rap, and reggaetón underlines her commitment to inclusive academia. Beyond academia, Cloe is a poet and vocalist, showcasing her diverse creative talents. Her work has been featured in Brown Sugar Lit, a womanist literary magazine, and has even served as the textual foundation for composer Nyokabi Kariũki’s composition, “Papa Mar/ Father Ocean.” With her distinctive approach to scholarship and creativity, Cloe is a deserving recipient of the NYU Faculty Fellowship. UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter | 25
Students of Note
UCSB Horns Coming to a Screen Near You A quartet of UCSB horns videorecorded the Robert Schumann Konzertstuck for Four Horns Op.86 for future release online. Overseen by Professor Steven Gross, it began as a senior project from hornist Max Dei Rossi (BA in Music 2023). Schumann is well known as a deficient orchestrator, knowing only how to write knowledgably for piano. Max rearranged the four solo parts to be more feasible, equal and approachable. The result is suitable for publishing, and Dr. Gross arranged for the work to be videoed. Max played the first solo part, and the other soloists were Connor Hahn, Pablo Hernandez and Madison Babovec. Recording and sound production were from the nationally recognized Overtone Artists of Boston.
Faculty of Note
Curtis Roads announces Second Edition of textbook, The Computer Music Tutorial Curtis Roads, professor in Media Arts and Technology and affiliate faculty in Music at UCSB, has announced the publication of an expanded, updated, and fully revised Second Edition of his textbook The Computer Music Tutorial (2023, The MIT Press, 1257 pages). Essential and state-of-the-art, The Computer Music Tutorial, Second Edition is a singular text that introduces computer and electronic music, explains its motivations, and puts topics into context. Curtis Roads’s step-by-step presentation orients musicians, engineers, scientists, and anyone else new to computer and electronic music. The new edition continues to be the definitive tutorial on all aspects of computer music, including digital audio, signal processing, musical input devices, performance software, editing systems, algorithmic composition, MIDI, and psychoacoustics, but the second edition also reflects the enormous growth of the field since the book’s original publication in 1996. New chapters cover up-to-date topics like virtual analog, pulsar synthesis, concatenative synthesis, spectrum analysis by atomic decomposition, Open Sound Control, spectrum editors, and instrument and patch editors. Exhaustively referenced and cross-referenced, the second edition adds hundreds of new figures and references to the original charts, diagrams, screen images, and photographs in order to explain basic concepts and terms. 26 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter
Features include: New chapters on virtual analog, pulsar synthesis, concatenative synthesis, spectrum analysis by atomic decomposition, Open Sound Control, spectrum editors, instrument and patch editors, and an appendix on machine learning Two thousand references support the book’s descriptions and point readers to further study Mathematical notation and program code examples used only when necessary Twenty-five years of classroom, seminar, and workshop use inform the pace and level of the material As Prof. Roads states: “I finished writing the first edition in 1993. It finally came out in 1996, the year I joined the UCSB Music faculty as a Visiting Associate Professor. Writing the Second Edition required going through the research literature in the field since 1993. It often felt overwhelming but I just had to keep going. In 2017 I devoted all my creative time to the project. I promised myself I would finish it in 2020, and at 10 PM on 31 December 2020 I finished writing. Time for Champagne! The production process took all of 2021 and most of 2022. In a way it was a perfect project for the pandemic lockdown, as it gave me a daily purpose in a time of isolation. The textbook has been the core of my teaching at UCSB.” Professor Roads’s previous books include Microsound (2001, The MIT Press) and Composing Electronic Music: A New Aesthetic (2015, Oxford University Press).
Are you a UCSB Music student, faculty member or alumni? We would love to hear from you! Let us know what your latest projects are, how we can get involved, and what incredible things you have accomplished! Email the Music Department’s Marketing and Communications Manager to share your news. UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter | 27
Compo
We are thrilled to announce that João Pedro Oliveira, Professor and Corwin Chair of Composition in the D of Music at UC Santa Barbara, has been named a 2023 Guggenheim Fellow for Music Composition. This distinguished award recognizes exceptional artistic achievement and provides recipients with the finan support they need to continue their work.
The Guggenheim Fellowship was established in 1925 by Senator Simon Guggenheim and his wife as a way individuals who have demonstrated exceptional ability in the arts, natural sciences, social sciences, and hum Over the years, it has become one of the most prestigious awards in the world, with a highly competitive se process that includes rigorous evaluation of applicants by a committee of experts in each field.
Professor Oliveira’s selection as a 2023 Guggenheim Fellow for Music Composition is a testament to his ou talent and dedication to his craft. As a composer, he has created a diverse body of work that spans multiple including electroacoustic music, chamber music, orchestral works, and multimedia compositions.
His compositions have been performed by renowned ensembles and orchestras around the world, includin Arditti Quartet, the Orquestra Gulbenkian, and the Arturo Toscanini Symphony Orchestra. He has also rece numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career, including the Magisterium Prize in Bourges, New Movie Awards (best music video), Giga-Hertz Award, Musica Nova Prize, Destellos Competition, and Metam Competition.
As the only recipient coming from UC Santa Barbara this year, Professor Oliveira’s selection is a tremendou for him and for our university. At UCSB, Professor Oliveira is known for his innovative approach to composi his commitment to mentoring the next generation of musicians and composers. He has been a member of many students to pursue their passion for music composition.
We are proud to have Professor Oliveira as a member of our faculty and congratulate him on this well-dese to the power of creativity and the importance of supporting the arts, and we look forward to seeing what h 28 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter
osition
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UCSB Professor and Corwin Chair João Pedro Oliveira Named 2023 Guggenheim Fellow for Music Composition
us honor ition and f the faculty since 2020 and has inspired
erved recognition. His work is a testament he will accomplish in the years to come. UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter | 29
Musico
Martha Sprigge, an Associate Professor of Musicology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has been grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Philosophical Society (APS research on the role of women in preserving the musical legacies of Germany’s greatest composers during the p
Sprigge’s project, titled “Musical Widowhood and the Gendered Labor of Mourning in Postwar Germany,” delv fascinating yet often overlooked aspect of Germany’s postwar history. In this era, funeral processions and eulogi composers were heavily politicized and orchestrated by the state, leaving little room for the grieving families. H public mourning was stifled, many composers’ widows found solace and purpose in archiving their late husband
“I’m thrilled that the NEH and APS decided to fund a project that foregrounds women’s labor in its many manife including musical, archival, emotional, and relational,” said Dr. Sprigge, who herself has a deep-rooted passion music history.
Dr. Sprigge’s interest in this topic was piqued during her research for her first book, Socialist Laments: Musical (Oxford University Press, 2021). While exploring the archives of the former East German Academy of the Arts in “widows correspondence.” These letters provided a glimpse into the healing bonds of continuity that widows e musical recordings and family memorabilia.
As a case study, Sprigge plans to delve into the archive of Paul Dessau, the most renowned East German compo widow, the equally famous choreographer and director Ruth Berghaus, played a pivotal role in preserving and m year partnership was marked by close collaboration, with Berghaus choreographing several of Dessau’s operas a to her.
“By taking the widows’ archiving work seriously, you realize who was behind the scenes bolstering the careers a composers,” Sprigge explained. “In the case of Berghaus, you can gain a new layer of appreciation for Dessau’s and the widows are doing most of the heavy lifting.”
Dr. Sprigge’s research promises to shed light on the vital but often unacknowledged contributions of these wom multifaceted and enduring role that women have played in the world of music, from archiving and preserving co APS, Sprigge is set to uncover hidden stories and enrich our understanding of musical history.
30 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter
ology
Women Shape n awarded Musical Heritage S) to continue her postwar era. of Postwar ves into a Germany; UCSB ies for renowned However, while Professor Martha ds’ musical works. Sprigge Awarded estations, for music and Research Grants
Mourning in the German Democratic Republic Berlin, she stumbled upon a folder labeled established as they cataloged and preserved
oser at the time of his death in 1979. Dessau’s managing the late composer’s archive. Their 25and Dessau dedicating numerous musical pieces
and preserving the work of these famous s music because she was a muse and co-creator. There is a lot of work involved in creating legacies,
men in shaping the musical heritage of postwar Germany. Her project serves as a reminder of the ompositions to providing inspiration and support for composers. With the support of the NEH and
Background photos (from “Socialist Laments: Musical Mourning in the German Democratic Republic”) of Composer Reiner Bredemeyer’s grave in Pankow III Cemetery, Berlin taken by Martha Sprigge. UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter | 31
In memory of Clar
Photo courtesy of MAT Seminar Series, Juan Manuel Escalante 32 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter
rence Barlow Clarence Barlow 1945-2023 Professor Clarence Barlow was the Corwin Endowed Chair and Head of Composition at UCSB’s Music Department from 2006 to 2019. Barlow’s previous teaching posts included twelve years as Professor of Composition and Computer Music at the renowned biennial Summer Courses of the International Music Institute at Darmstadt (1982-1994); over twenty years at Cologne Music University (Musikhochschule) as Lecturer in Computer Music (1984-2005); four years as Artistic Director of the Institute of Sonology at The Hague’s Royal Conservatoire (1990-1994); and twelve years as Professor of Composition and Sonology at the Royal Conservatoire (1994-2006). Other posts included Visiting Professor of Composition and Acoustic Art at the Folkwang University in Essen, Germany (1990-1991), Visiting Professor of Composition at the Superior School of Music and Dramatic Arts (ESMAE) in Porto, Portugal (2005-2006) and more recently Visiting Professor of Composition at the Catalonia College of Music (ESMUC) in Barcelona, Spain (2018-20). Born and raised in what was then called Calcutta, India, Barlow wrote his first symphony at the age of 17. In 1968 he moved to Cologne, Germany where he studied composition under Bernd Alois Zimmermann (1968-1970) and Karlheinz Stockhausen (1971-1973). He was a universally acknowledged pioneer and celebrated composer in the field of electronic and computer music. He made groundbreaking advancements in interdisciplinary composition that unite mathematics, computer science, visual arts, and literature. UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter | 33
While he was a driving force in interdisciplinary and technological advances, his music is nevertheless firmly grounded in tradition and thus incorporates much inherited from the past. His works, primarily for traditional instruments, feature a vocabulary that ranges from pretonal to tonal, nontonal, or microtonal idioms, and, further, may incorporate elements derived from non-Western cultures. Between 1959 and 2020 Barlow produced over 100 works of various types, including 4 orchestral works (2 piano concertos, and a work each for string orchestra and for large orchestra); 40 chamber works for various groups of traditional instruments, including 2 string quartets and 5 pieces for music theater; 3 choral pieces; 4 vocal works with instrumental accompaniment; 30 piano pieces (including works for 2 pianos); 3 organ works; 20 electroacoustic works, 3 of which fall into the category of abstract radio plays; and 5 films.
“Don’t be concerned with style– just make music. - Clarence Barlow, UCSB MAT Seminar Series (2015)
”
Left: A young Clarence Barlow (1985) (his hair died blonde) with his personal computer on a musical stage, before a performance combining generative algorithms for melody generation, a drummer, and a bass clarinet player, taken by Curtis Roads. Right (background image): Clarence’s composition “Çoǧlu Otobüs İşletmesi”- a highly complex piece.
34 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter
Barlow’s music has been programmed on concerts far too numerous to list here. From 1968 to 2019, 53 concerts in Germany, The Netherlands, California and elsewhere were devoted entirely to his music (in Aachen, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berne, Bratislava, Bremen, Calcutta, Cologne, Darmstadt, Dortmund, Dublin, Frankfurt, Fullerton, Graz, Hamburg, Helsinki, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Krefeld, Ljubljana, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Münster, New York City, Palma de Mallorca, Roermond, Rotterdam, Santa Barbara, Stanford, Stockholm, The Hague, Trstĕnice, Wissembourg, Yokohama and Zurich). His music has been recorded on 27 CDs and one LP, 5 of Clarence Barlow 1989 these devoted entirely to Barlow’s music. In addition to his renown as composer, Barlow has also attained high distinction as an interdisciplinary researcher, author, and software developer. His publications include a number of books, one of which is an extensive study on tonality and metricism, Bus Journey to Parametron (1980) and another, On Musiquantics (1986-2008), a textbook on the relation between music and mathematics, acoustics, phonetics, computer science and Barlow’s own methods to quantify tonality and metricism. Additional publications are the software that Barlow has written as aids for composing and notating music. These include the notation program ЖSC (1972-1976), Synthrumentator (1984-2013) for converting speech into performable scores, Autobusk (1986-2001), a real-time modal and metric pitch and rhythm generator, and Tupletizer (1998-2005) for notating irrational rhythms for manual performance. Most recently, Barlow had been working on a joint project to translate and publish the entirety of Bhatkhande’s Kramik Pustak Malika containing over 1900 compositions of Indian Classical Music to Western Staff notation. He succumbed in Barcelona on 28 June 2023 from complications of a fall. He is survived by his wife, the artist Birgit Faustmann.
To get to know more about Clarence and his work: UCSB MAT (Media Arts and Technology Program) Seminar Series Interview (2015) The Films of Clarence Barlow - Screening and Q&A. UCSB Carsey-Wolf Center (2023) UC Santa UC Barbara of Music |of Summer/Fall 2023 2022 Newsletter | 35 | 17 SantaDepartment Barbara Department Music | Summer Newsletter
Meet your Music Staff
Carly Yartz
Olivia Mendoza
David Holmes
Position Title and what you do at Music: Graduate Program Advisor; I manage the graduate program in the music department (admissions, funding, employment, degree progress) How long have you been at UCSB? I have worked at UCSB for 17 years and been in the music department for over 12 years. Any achievements here at UCSB? I have been nominated twice for the campus-wide Margaret T. Getman Service to Students Award. Favorite song right now/of all time and why: Footloose by Kenny Loggins. For obvious reasons. It’s a classic.
Position title and what you do: Undergraduate Advisor, I do advising for undergraduate students in the Music Department and update course schedules. How long have you been at UCSB? Almost 1 year! What’s something about you that we don’t know? I have 244 Spotify playlists. Favorite song right now/of all time and why: My favorite song at the moment is N.Y.C.T by NCT U because it is a good song to take a walk to and it reminds me of one of my favorite places to be.
Position title and what you do: I am the Chief Administrative Officer and I am involved in providing leadership across all areas of the department as an organization, supporting our staff team members and working to provide the highest level of services and support to our students, faculty, and community. How long have you been at UCSB? I’ve worked at UCSB for 17 years now and was the grad advisor from 07-10 before coming back in 2020 to fill my current role. Tell us a fun fact about yourself: I am into fishing, poetry, hockey, and cooking when I’m not running my three little ducks (11,9,7) around to club soccer games. Favorite song right now/of all time and why: Favorite Song is Amsterdam by Coldplay, Favorite Band is Phish, Favorite Genre is Bluegrass.
Hey, Thanks Carly
36 | UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter
click each graphic to listen to our favorite songs!
Dave Farrar
Yasmine Ibrahim
Richard Croy
Position Title and what you do at Music: Financial Analyst: Dept. of Music financials, student hiring, payroll, timekeeping... How long have you been at UCSB? 29 years What’s something about you that we don’t know? I’m a scientist at heart and like marine biology. Favorite song right now/of all time and why: Too many to decide from: Bob Schneider, Dave Matthews, Herbie Hancock, Metallica, David Guetta. Song of all time: Phish ‘Run Like an Antelope” - such a motivating song to just ‘set the gearshift to high gear’.
Position Title and what you do at Music: Academic Personnel Coordinator, I help with faculty recruitment, appointment, advancement, and any nonacademic issues. How long have you been at UCSB? 3 years Tell us a fun fact about yourself: A fun fact about me is that I live with 4 animals and none of them are mine. Favorite song right now/of all time and why: CLEAN by little image. This is my favorite song right now because the chorus resonates with me. It’s my reminder to not let the little things get to me and to just keep trying to move forward.
Position title and what you do: Production and Events Manager How long have you been at UCSB? 1 year Tell us a fun fact about yourself: I was in Pirates of the Caribbean 4 as a sword fighter Favorite song right now/of all time and why: Scarlet BegoniasGrateful Dead.... that whole album is one of desert island albums.
UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter | 37
Meet your Music Staff click each graphic to listen to our favorite songs!
David Cesca Position title and what you do: Piano Technician. I tune, voice, regulate, repair, rebuild and manage the Music Department 85+ pianos. I also maintain 2 harpsichords and manage service for 17 piano lab digital keyboards. How long have you been at UCSB? 20 years Tell us a fun fact about yourself: I tuned the concert pianos for many years for Arts & Lectures performances at Campbell Hall and downtown venues. I met and worked with several famous piano artists especially Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Arlo Guthrie (yes he performs with piano when not on the guitar). Favorite song right now/of all time and why: Right now - theme song to “Only Murders in the Building” series. It’s a catchy tune that sticks in my head and a nice
Alessandra Villegas piano version is available. All time - I can’t make up my mind so it’s at tie - Take Five by Dave Brubeck Quartet; I love the piano and sax interplay with the drum solo and quintuple time. Also, Cast Your Fate to The Wind by Vince Guaraldi Trio; this beautiful piece is an introspective and emotional melody with nice jazz interludes.
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Position Title and what you do at Music: Marketing and Communications Manager. I manage the publicity of the Department of Music and their events. Design and produce digital and print marketing assets for Music students and faculty. Market to media outlets How long have you been at UCSB? A year and a half Tell us a fun fact about yourself: I paint a lot and create a lot of art... and am currently working on a commissioned mural. Favorite song right now/of all time and why: Right now, Moon River by Jon Batiste, I find him and his music fascinating. Of all time, Make You Feel My Love by Bob Dylan.
Wherever we are, we share a common experience as UC Santa Barbara friends, faculty, staff, scholars and musicians. Our donors provide essential support for teaching, research, and program needs. The department benefits from annual unrestricted support and major gifts designated for special purposes. Your generosity plays a critical role in our ability to fulfill our mission and is truly appreciated. Every gift counts. Contact Leslie Gray, Senior Director of Development, at (805) 893-4193 or leslie. gray@ucsb.edu to make a donation. Gifts can also be made online at giving.ucsb.edu. It is the policy of the University of California, Santa Barbara that a modest portion of gifts and/or income from gifts may be used to defray the costs of raising and administering funds. UC Santa Barbara Department of Music | Summer/Fall 2023 Newsletter | 39
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We are so excited to have live Learn more about the different performances back, and so are areas of music that there are to our students! Don’t miss our study here at UCSB. live music announcements.
#UCSBStudentRecital #UCSBConcertSeries Get to know more about our students and their incredible talents. Student recital performances are free.
See reminders and buy tickets online to our upcoming concerts and shows. You can also livestream many of our performances and access our digital programs.
FALL 2023 EVENTS OCTOBER 20 20
CORWIN SERIES: Nadia Shpachenko and Cal Poly Pomona Piano Ensemble CORWIN SERIES: Jose Luis Campana and Isabel Urrutia
NOVEMBER 3-4 PARENTS & FAMILY WEEKEND: UCSB CHOIRS MIDDLE EAST ENSEMBLE UCSB WIND ENSEMBLE 12 CARILLON RECITAL: Wesley Arai 15 DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC AND A&L PRESENT: Zakir Hussain 20 UCSB CHAMBER CHOIR FALL CONCERT 21 UCSB LUMINA & SINGING GAUCHOS FALL CONCERT 29 UCSB JAZZ ENSEMBLE FALL CONCERT DECEMBER 2 3 4 5 8
MIDDLE EAST ENSEMBLE FALL CONCERT UCSB CHAMBER PLAYERS FALL CONCERT UCSB ORCHESTRA FALL CONCERT UCSB ENSEMBLE FOR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FALL CONCERT UCSB GOSPEL CHOIR FALL CONCERT music.ucsb.edu University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6070