Kramer, Jonathan

Kramer, Jonathan, American composer, music theorist, teacher, and writer on music; b. Hartford, Conn., Dec. 7, 1942. He studied at Harvard Univ. (A.B., 1965) and the Univ. of Calif. at Berkeley (M.A., 1967; Ph.D., 1969). He also received training in computer music at Stanford Univ. (1967-68) and was a postdoctoral fellow in criticism and theory at the Univ. of Calif, at Irvine (1976). He taught at the Univ. of Calif, at Berkeley (1969-70), the Oberlin Cons. (1970-71), and Yale Univ. (1971-78). In 1978 he joined the faculty of the Univ. of Cincinnati Coll.-Cons. of Music, where he later was prof. of composition and theory (1983-90). From 1988 he was a prof. of music at Columbia Univ. In 1980 he became program annotator of the Cincinnati Sym. Orch., and also was its composer-in-residence and new music advisor (1984-92). He publ. The Time of Music (N.Y., 1988) and Listen to the Music (N.Y, 1988).

Works: dramatic and multimedia

For Broken Piano, Truck, Shaving Cream, Fruit Salad, Toilet, Wife, San Francisco, Color TV, Tape, and Slide Projections (1969-70; Santa Cruz, Calif., April 3, 1970); Blue Music for Tape and Actor (1970-72); An Imaginary Dance for Tape and Slide Projections (1970-73); Fanfare for Actors and Tape (1973-76); En noir et blanc for 2 Actor-Pianists and Actor-Dancer (1988). orch.:Funeral March (1957-61); Rhapsody (1958); Prelude and Fugue (1964); Sinfonia (1965); Clarinet Concerto (1965; Sacramento, March 30, 1967); Requiem for the Innocent (1970); Moments in and out of Time (1981-83; Cincinnati, Feb. 10, 1984); Musica pro musica (1986-87; Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 14, 1987); About Face (1988-89; Cincinnati, Nov. 10, 1989); Cincy in C (1994); also band music. chamber: Suite for 10 Instruments (1958); 3 Inventions for 2 Clarinets and Cello (1960); Trio for Violin, Viola, and Cello (1962-65); Random Suite for Clarinet and Piano (1965); 3 Pieces for Clarinet (1965-66); Obstacles for Trumpet, Trombone, and Piano (1967); Septet (1968); Renaissance Motet for 2 Flutes and Bassoon (1970); 1 for 5 in 7, Mostly for Woodwind Quintet (1971); 1 More Piece for Clarinet (1972); The Canons ofBlackearth for Percussion Quartet and Tape (1972-73); Renascence for Clarinet and Electronics (1974; rev. 1977, 1985, 1998); Moving Music for Solo Clarinet and 12 Clarinets (1975-76); 5 Studies on 6 Notes for Percussion Trio or Harpsichord or Guitar (1976-80); Licks for 3 String Basses (1980-81); Atlanta Licks for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Piano (1984); A Game for Cello and Piano (1988-92); Another Anniversary for Clarinet (1989); Another Sunrise for 7 Instrumentalists (1990); Notta Sonata for 2 Pianos and 2 or 3 Percussionists (1992-93); Serbelloni Serenade for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1995); Remembrance of a People for Piano, String Quintet, and Optional Narrator (1996; also for Piano, String Orch., and Optional Narrator); Surreality Check for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1998); Klangs Klang for Clarinet, Violin, and Cello (1999); keyboard pieces. vocal:No Beginning, No End for Chorus and Orch. (1982-83; Cincinnati, Oct. 30, 1983). other: Tape pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire