Curtis Roads
Encyclopedia
Curtis Roads is a composer
of electronic
and electroacoustic music specializing in granular
and pulsar synthesis, author, and computer programmer.
He studied composition at the California Institute of the Arts
and the University of California, San Diego
and is Associate Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara
. He has previously taught at the University of Naples "Federico II", Harvard University
, Oberlin
Conservatory, Les Ateliers UPIC (now CCMIX, Center for the Composition of Music Iannis Xenakis
), and the University of Paris
VIII.
He co-founded the International Computer Music Association in 1980 and edited the Computer Music Journal
from 1978–2000. He has created software including PulsarGenerator and the Creatovox, both with Alberto de Campo.
Roads is the first person to implement granular
sound processing in the digital domain.
Since 2004, he has been researching a new method of sound analysis called atomic decompositions, sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
The first movement of his composition Clang-Tint, "Purity", uses intervals from the Bohlen–Pierce scale.
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 electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
and electroacoustic music specializing in granular
Granular synthesis
Granular synthesis is a basic sound synthesis method that operates on the microsound time scale.It is based on the same principle as sampling. However, the samples are not played back conventionally, but are instead split into small pieces of around 1 to 50ms. These small pieces are called grains...
and pulsar synthesis, author, and computer programmer.
He studied composition at the California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
and the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
and is Associate Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
. He has previously taught at the University of Naples "Federico II", Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Oberlin
Oberlin
Oberlin may refer to:Places in the United States* Oberlin, Kansas* Oberlin, Louisiana* Oberlin, Ohio** Oberlin College** Oberlin ConservatoryPeople*Oberlin...
Conservatory, Les Ateliers UPIC (now CCMIX, Center for the Composition of Music Iannis Xenakis
Iannis Xenakis
Iannis Xenakis was a Romanian-born Greek ethnic, naturalized French composer, music theorist, and architect-engineer. He is commonly recognized as one of the most important post-war avant-garde composers...
), and the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
VIII.
He co-founded the International Computer Music Association in 1980 and edited the Computer Music Journal
Computer Music Journal
Computer Music Journal is an American academic journal that covers a wide range of topics related to digital audio signal processing and electroacoustic music. It is published on-line and in hard copy by MIT Press. The magazine is accompanied by an annual CD/DVD that collects audio and video work...
from 1978–2000. He has created software including PulsarGenerator and the Creatovox, both with Alberto de Campo.
Roads is the first person to implement granular
Granular synthesis
Granular synthesis is a basic sound synthesis method that operates on the microsound time scale.It is based on the same principle as sampling. However, the samples are not played back conventionally, but are instead split into small pieces of around 1 to 50ms. These small pieces are called grains...
sound processing in the digital domain.
Since 2004, he has been researching a new method of sound analysis called atomic decompositions, sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
The first movement of his composition Clang-Tint, "Purity", uses intervals from the Bohlen–Pierce scale.
Publications
- Roads, Curtis (2009). Composing Electronic Music. Oxford University Press. (forthcoming)
- Roads, Curtis (2001). Microsound. Cambridge: MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-18215-7
- Roads, Curtis (1996). The Computer Music Tutorial. MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-68082-3
- Roads, Curtis (1997). Musical Signal Processing. Routledge. ISBN 90-265-1483-2
- Roads, Curtis and Strawn, John, eds (1987). Foundations of Computer Music. MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-68051-3
Compositions
- POINT LINE CLOUD (2005) @Asphodel (Excerpt @ youtube)
- Half-life (1998–1999)
- Clang-Tint (1991–1994)