Janet Dunbar
Encyclopedia
Dr. Janet Dunbar is an American
composer
.
, working under composers Chris Chafe
, John Chowning
, Jonathan Harvey
and Wayne Peterson
.
During the years when Dunbar worked at CCRMA (Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics, Stanford University), the composer produced computer music compositions which integrated traditional instruments, poetic recitations and vocal melodies with algorithmically composed music which was seeded with world music motives. This algorithmic composition and digital synthesis required fluency in computer languages including Common Lisp
, Common Lisp Music
and Heinrich Taube’s Stella. This work culminated in the production of the CD, Spirit Journey. Prior to the CCRMA years, Dunbar earned a Master of Arts degree in Music from San Jose State University
, where the composer studied composition, counterpoint and agogic accentation with Tikey Zes, electronic music composition with Allen Strange
, and instrumental composition with Jorge Liderman
. Currently Dunbar composes works for orchestra, and other forces, directs Amberlight Conservatory and teaches at Tarrant County College
in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer
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...
.
Musical life
Dunbar earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Composition at Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, working under composers Chris Chafe
Chris Chafe
Christopher David Chafe, born 1952 in Bern, Switzerland, is a musician, scientist, and the director of the Stanford University Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics...
, John Chowning
John Chowning
John M. Chowning is an American composer, musician, inventor, and professor best known for his work at Stanford University and his invention of FM synthesis while there.-Contribution:...
, Jonathan Harvey
Jonathan Harvey
Jonathan Harvey is the name of:*Jonathan Harvey , British composer*Jonathan Harvey , U.S. Representative from New Hampshire*Jonathan Harvey , British playwright...
and Wayne Peterson
Wayne Peterson
Wayne Peterson is a Pulitzer Prize winning composer, as well as a pianist and educator.Peterson earned B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Minnesota...
.
During the years when Dunbar worked at CCRMA (Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics, Stanford University), the composer produced computer music compositions which integrated traditional instruments, poetic recitations and vocal melodies with algorithmically composed music which was seeded with world music motives. This algorithmic composition and digital synthesis required fluency in computer languages including Common Lisp
Common Lisp
Common Lisp, commonly abbreviated CL, is a dialect of the Lisp programming language, published in ANSI standard document ANSI INCITS 226-1994 , . From the ANSI Common Lisp standard the Common Lisp HyperSpec has been derived for use with web browsers...
, Common Lisp Music
Common Lisp Music
CLM is a music synthesis and signal processing package in the Music V family created by Bill Schottstaedt. It runs in a number of various Lisp implementations or as a part of the Snd audio editor . There is also a realtime implementation, Snd-rt which is developed by Kjetil S...
and Heinrich Taube’s Stella. This work culminated in the production of the CD, Spirit Journey. Prior to the CCRMA years, Dunbar earned a Master of Arts degree in Music from San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
, where the composer studied composition, counterpoint and agogic accentation with Tikey Zes, electronic music composition with Allen Strange
Allen Strange
Allen Strange was an American composer. He authored two books, Electronic Music: Systems, Techniques, and Controls and Programming and Meta-Programming the Electro-Organism...
, and instrumental composition with Jorge Liderman
Jorge Liderman
Jorge Mario Liderman was an American composer. He was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship in 2003 and taught composition at the University of California, Berkeley.- Life :...
. Currently Dunbar composes works for orchestra, and other forces, directs Amberlight Conservatory and teaches at Tarrant County College
Tarrant County College
Tarrant County College ' or Tarrant County College District is a community college serving the Fort Worth area in Tarrant County, Texas and providing degree programs toward an Associate of Arts, an Associate of Applied Science or Associate of Arts in Teaching...
in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Orchestral
- Emergence (2010)
- Episodes (2010)
- Déjà Vu (2010)
- Vision (Visión) (2009)
- Epiphany (Epifanía) (2009)
- Symphony of the Woods (2008)
Choral
- Ave Maria for mixed chorus (2008)
- Glory to God in the Highest for SAT/B (1992)
- Agnus Dei for SAT (1990)
Chamber
- An Inexplicable Variation Fixation for string quartet (2009)
- Transformation (Transformación) for guitar quartet (2009)
- Autumn Autograph for two guitars (2008)
- When the Spirit Moves You… for string quartet (2008)
- Spring Fever Triptych for two guitars (2008)
- Duo for trumpet and electric guitar with piano accompaniment (2008)
- The Radiance of Her Light, I-III for soprano, performance poet, and two percussionists, (1996–1997)
- Inanna and the Divine Essences for soprano, violin and cello (1995)
- South Fork of a Daystream for violin and guitar (1993)
- A Light Left On for soprano and piano (1993)
- Guitar Quartet (1992)
- String Quintet (1991) for string quartet and guitar
Solo
- Inside My Wildest Dreams for solo piano (2010)
- Subterranean Grotto for solo double bass (2008)
- Sleep Dancing (Bailando en Sueños) for solo guitar (2008)
- Vary Vary Rondo for solo horn (2008)
- Recuerdos de Segovia for solo guitar (2007): revised 2008
- Mutated Permutations for solo flute (1992)
- Variations after Bartok for solo piano (1992)
- Crystal Mines for solo piano (1992)
- Dances for solo piano (1992)
- Theme and Variations for solo piano (1992)
- Two Part Invention for solo piano (1991)
- Fugue for solo piano (1991)
- Charles Ives Visits the Red River Valley for solo piano (1990)
- Twelve Tones Stand Alone for solo guitar (1990)
- Antonym for solo piano (1990)
- Subject and Reflection for solo piano (1990)
Computer music
- Spirit Journey CD (1999)
- Song of the Sea, I-X for soprano, performance poet, and CD (1997–1998)
- Song of the Bear, I-II for soprano, performance poet, and CD (1996)
- Nine Prayers, I-III for soprano, performance poet and CD (1996)
- Song of the Shaman, I-IV for soprano, performance poet, percussionist and CD (1995)
- Life on Earth, I-III for performance poet and tape (1994)
- Jailbreak on tape (1990)
See also
- Austine, Leni. “Review of Spirit Journey”. Pan Gaia Magazine, Summer, 2000.
- Kaplan, Shari. Cover Story: Vision Quest: Saratoga musician finds peace in the journey of life. Saratoga News, December 1, 1999, Saratoga, CA.
- Nelson, Bernie P. Spirit Journey by Janet Dunbar. Lightword Reviews, January 10, 2000, Lightword Publishers, Del Rio, TX.
- Young, Christianne. “’Modern’ Classical: Colleyville Composer’s Music Gets International Play”. Colleyville Courier, August 5, 2009, Colleyville, TX.