Franz Kamin
Encyclopedia
Franz Kamin was a prolific American author, composer, and pianist whose works were modelled on topology
, general systems theory, meditation
al processes, and chance operations.
Born in Milwaukee, Kamin studied composition at the University of Oklahoma
with Spencer Norton, and at Indiana University
with Roque Cordero
, where he also studied piano with Alfonso Montecino. While at IU, Kamin, together with fellow composer James Brody
organized FIASCO, an experimental collective which meet weekly in Bloomington
from 1966 to 1972. Among his compositions from this period was "The Concert of Doors", a synaesthetic work in which a number of doors, each of vastly differing design, some found, some constructed, ranging from comical to mysterious, were set on a path through a woods to be traversed by the audience-participants. Kamin moved to New York
in the 1970s and collaborated with cellist Charlotte Moorman
, a fixture in the downtown avant-garde scene at that time. He eventually settled in Saint Paul, Minnesota
, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Kamin is published in two books (1980's Ann Margaret Loves You & other psychotopological diversions and 1986's Scribble Death) by Station Hill Press. Several of his shorter works, musical scores and an LP recording of Behavioral Drift II and Rugugmool have also been published.
He was killed in a car crash in Roseville, Minnesota
when a car driven by James Brody
, who also died, left the road, jumped a curb, and hit a tree. The two composers were returning from a SEAMUS festival in St. Cloud, Minnesota
. Their names were released on April 12, 2010, by the Ramsey County
medical examiner's office.
Topology
Topology is a major area of mathematics concerned with properties that are preserved under continuous deformations of objects, such as deformations that involve stretching, but no tearing or gluing...
, general systems theory, meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
al processes, and chance operations.
Born in Milwaukee, Kamin studied composition at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
with Spencer Norton, and at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
with Roque Cordero
Roque Cordero
Roque Cordero was a Panamanian composer.-Life:Born in Panama City, he studied composition under Ernst Krenek and conducting under Dimitri Mitropoulos, Stanley Chapple, and Leon Barzin before becoming director of the Institute of Music and Artistic Director and conductor of the National Symphony of...
, where he also studied piano with Alfonso Montecino. While at IU, Kamin, together with fellow composer James Brody
James Brody
James Brody was an American composer, born in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. Frank J. Oteri of the American Music Center's New Music Box called Brody "an important figure in the development of electronic music in the Midwest"....
organized FIASCO, an experimental collective which meet weekly in Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
from 1966 to 1972. Among his compositions from this period was "The Concert of Doors", a synaesthetic work in which a number of doors, each of vastly differing design, some found, some constructed, ranging from comical to mysterious, were set on a path through a woods to be traversed by the audience-participants. Kamin moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the 1970s and collaborated with cellist Charlotte Moorman
Charlotte Moorman
Madeline Charlotte Moorman Garside was an American cellist and performance artist.She was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. She studied cello from age ten and won a scholarship to Centenary College where she took her B.A. in music in 1955. She received her M.A...
, a fixture in the downtown avant-garde scene at that time. He eventually settled in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Kamin is published in two books (1980's Ann Margaret Loves You & other psychotopological diversions and 1986's Scribble Death) by Station Hill Press. Several of his shorter works, musical scores and an LP recording of Behavioral Drift II and Rugugmool have also been published.
He was killed in a car crash in Roseville, Minnesota
Roseville, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,690 people, 14,598 households, and 8,598 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,543.9 people per square mile . There were 14,917 housing units at an average density of 1,126.4 per square mile...
when a car driven by James Brody
James Brody
James Brody was an American composer, born in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. Frank J. Oteri of the American Music Center's New Music Box called Brody "an important figure in the development of electronic music in the Midwest"....
, who also died, left the road, jumped a curb, and hit a tree. The two composers were returning from a SEAMUS festival in St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...
. Their names were released on April 12, 2010, by the Ramsey County
Ramsey County, Minnesota
Ramsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1849. As of 2010, the population was 508,640. Its county seat is St. Paul, which is also Minnesota's state capital. The county is named for Alexander Ramsey , the first governor of the Minnesota Territory...
medical examiner's office.