Larry Lake (musician)
Encyclopedia
Larry Ellsworth Lake is a Canadian composer
, trumpet
er, freelance writer on music, radio broadcaster, and record producer
of American birth. As a composer he is primarily known for his electronic music
. His musical compositions are characterized by their integration of acoustic instruments with electronic ones in live performance. Since 1985 he has served as Artistic Director of the Canadian Electronic Ensemble
, a group of which he is a founding member. For nearly 30 years he hosted and served as music consultant for the CBC Radio
program Two New Hours. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre (CMC), he is the former chair of the CMC's Ontario Region Council and is an executive member of the CMC's national board. He is also a member of both the Canadian Electroacoustic Community
and the Canadian League of Composers
. His compositions have received multiple awards from the CMC (1982, 1984, 1987) and from the Major Armstrong Foundation. He has received three Juno Award
nominations for his work as a record producer.
parents in Greenville, Pennsylvania
, Lake grew up in Florida and Georgia. In 1960 he entered Florida State University
but transferred to the University of Miami
(UM) early on in his college education. At the UM he studied trumpet with Harry Glantz, former principal trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra
. He earned three degrees from the UM: a Bachelor of Music
(1964), a Master of Education
(1968), and a Master of Music
in musicology
(1970). In 1968 he studied electronic music at Southern Illinois University
with Will Gay Bottje, Lejaren Hiller
, Hubert S. Howe Jr, and Robert Moog
.
In 1970 Lake moved to Canada to pursue further studies in electronic music with Gustav Ciamaga
at the University of Toronto
(UT). In 1972 he abandoned his studies at the UT to become a music producer for CBC Radio
. He left that position in 1975 but began working as a music consultant and producer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
in 1977. Some of the programs he has worked on for the CBC are MusicScope, Themes and Variations, Music Alive, and Symphony Hall
. In 1978 he became the host and music consultant for the CBC Radio program Two New Hours, a position he maintained until 2007. In 2002 he and David Jaeger were honoured with the Friends of Canadian Music Award by the Canadian Music Centre
for their work on that program.
In 1971 Lake co-founded the Canadian Electronic Ensemble
(CEE) with Jaeger, David Grimes
, and James Montgomery
, and since 1985 he has served as the Artistic Director of the group. The CEE is currently the oldest continuously active live-electronic performing group in the world. In 1984 they performed at the International Society for Contemporary Music
's World Music Days Festival. In 1986 the CEE joined the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
to perform the world premiere of Steven Gellman
's Universe Symphony. The ensemble has also appeared in concerts with the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra
, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
. Since 1974 the CEE has presented an annual concert series in Toronto. They have also given regular international tours since 1975. In addition to Lake, the ensemble's other current members are Jaeger, Montgomery, Paul Stillwell, Rose Bolton, and Michael Dobinson.
In addition to his work with the CEE, Lake has also maintained a career as a concert trumpeter. He has performed as a soloist with a variety of musical ensembles, including Arraymusic
, L'Association pour la création et la recherche électroacoustique du Québec, Espace Musique
, Music Inter Alia, the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver New Music, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared more than 80 times on CBC Radio and Television as a chamber musician and soloist.
Chamber music
Electroacoustic music
Vocal music
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...
, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
er, freelance writer on music, radio broadcaster, and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
of American birth. As a composer he is primarily known for his electronic music
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...
. His musical compositions are characterized by their integration of acoustic instruments with electronic ones in live performance. Since 1985 he has served as Artistic Director of the Canadian Electronic Ensemble
Canadian Electronic Ensemble
The Canadian Electronic Ensemble is a Canadian electronic music ensemble based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1971 by David Grimes, David Jaeger, Larry Lake and James Montgomery, it is the oldest continuously active live-electronic performing group in the world. In 1984 they performed at the...
, a group of which he is a founding member. For nearly 30 years he hosted and served as music consultant for the CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
program Two New Hours. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre (CMC), he is the former chair of the CMC's Ontario Region Council and is an executive member of the CMC's national board. He is also a member of both the Canadian Electroacoustic Community
Canadian Electroacoustic Community
Founded in 1986, La Communauté électroacoustique canadienne / The Canadian Electroacoustic Community is Canada’s national electroacoustic / computer music / sonic arts organization and as such is dedicated to promoting this progressive art form in its broadest definition: from “pure” acousmatic...
and the Canadian League of Composers
Canadian League of Composers
The Canadian League of Composers is an organization formed in 1951 of Canadian composers primarily interested in raising awareness and acceptance of Canadian music. The activities of the League are overseen and directed by an executive and a National Council...
. His compositions have received multiple awards from the CMC (1982, 1984, 1987) and from the Major Armstrong Foundation. He has received three Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
nominations for his work as a record producer.
Life and career
Born to MennoniteMennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
parents in Greenville, Pennsylvania
Greenville, Pennsylvania
Greenville is a borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Located along the Shenango River, Greenville is roughly 80 miles from both Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Greenville is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is home to 570,000 people...
, Lake grew up in Florida and Georgia. In 1960 he entered Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
but transferred to the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
(UM) early on in his college education. At the UM he studied trumpet with Harry Glantz, former principal trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
. He earned three degrees from the UM: a Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
(1964), a Master of Education
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
(1968), and a Master of Music
Master of Music
The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...
in musicology
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
(1970). In 1968 he studied electronic music at Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
with Will Gay Bottje, Lejaren Hiller
Lejaren Hiller
Lejaren Arthur Hiller was an American composer. In 1957 he collaborated on the first significant computer music composition, Illiac Suite, with Leonard Issacson. It was his fourth string quartet. In 1958 he founded the Experimental Music Studio at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign...
, Hubert S. Howe Jr, and Robert Moog
Robert Moog
Robert Arthur Moog , commonly called Bob Moog was an American pioneer of electronic music, best known as the inventor of the Moog synthesizer.-Life:...
.
In 1970 Lake moved to Canada to pursue further studies in electronic music with Gustav Ciamaga
Gustav Ciamaga
Gustav Ciamaga was a Canadian composer, music educator, and writer. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers, he was best known for his compositions of electronic music, although he produced several non-electronic works. His compositions have been...
at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
(UT). In 1972 he abandoned his studies at the UT to become a music producer for CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
. He left that position in 1975 but began working as a music consultant and producer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
in 1977. Some of the programs he has worked on for the CBC are MusicScope, Themes and Variations, Music Alive, and Symphony Hall
Symphony Hall
Symphony Hall usually refers to:* Symphony Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, USAIt may also refer to:Concert Halls* Allentown Symphony Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA* Phoenix Symphony Hall in Phoenix, Arizona, USA...
. In 1978 he became the host and music consultant for the CBC Radio program Two New Hours, a position he maintained until 2007. In 2002 he and David Jaeger were honoured with the Friends of Canadian Music Award by the Canadian Music Centre
Canadian Music Centre
The Canadian Music Centre holds Canada's largest collection of Canadian concert music. The CMC exists to promote the works of its Associate Composers in Canada and around the world....
for their work on that program.
In 1971 Lake co-founded the Canadian Electronic Ensemble
Canadian Electronic Ensemble
The Canadian Electronic Ensemble is a Canadian electronic music ensemble based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1971 by David Grimes, David Jaeger, Larry Lake and James Montgomery, it is the oldest continuously active live-electronic performing group in the world. In 1984 they performed at the...
(CEE) with Jaeger, David Grimes
David Grimes (composer)
David Grimes is an American composer. In 1970 he graduated from the Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree. He then entered the University of Toronto where he earned a Master of Music in 1972. In 1971, he co-founded the Canadian Electronic Ensemble with David Jaeger, James...
, and James Montgomery
James Montgomery (composer)
James Louis Montgomery is a Canadian music composer, performer, and arts administrator. He is the current artistic director of the Music Gallery, a position that he has held for more than 20 years. He is also a founding member of the Canadian Electronic Ensemble with whom he still actively...
, and since 1985 he has served as the Artistic Director of the group. The CEE is currently the oldest continuously active live-electronic performing group in the world. In 1984 they performed at the International Society for Contemporary Music
International Society for Contemporary Music
The International Society for Contemporary Music is a music organization that promotes contemporary classical music.ISCM was established in 1922, in Salzburg. Its core activity is the World Music Days Festival, held every year at a different location. The festival includes cutting edge productions...
's World Music Days Festival. In 1986 the CEE joined the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
to perform the world premiere of Steven Gellman
Steven Gellman
Steven Gellman is a Canadian composer and pianist. He has been commissioned to write works for the Besançon International Music Festival, the CBC Symphony Orchestra, the Hamilton Philharmonic, McGill University, Musica Camerata, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra,...
's Universe Symphony. The ensemble has also appeared in concerts with the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra
Ottawa Symphony Orchestra
The Ottawa Symphony Orchestra is a full size orchestra in Ottawa including professional, student and amateur musicians. With around 100 musicians, the OSO is Ottawa's largest orchestra, which allows it to perform large symphonic repertoire of the 19th and 20th centuries, including works by...
, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra performing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over 240,000 people attend its live performances each year. It was founded in 1930 and plays in 12 venues. Its home is the Orpheum theatre. With an annual operating budget of $9.5 million, it is the...
. Since 1974 the CEE has presented an annual concert series in Toronto. They have also given regular international tours since 1975. In addition to Lake, the ensemble's other current members are Jaeger, Montgomery, Paul Stillwell, Rose Bolton, and Michael Dobinson.
In addition to his work with the CEE, Lake has also maintained a career as a concert trumpeter. He has performed as a soloist with a variety of musical ensembles, including Arraymusic
Arraymusic
Arraymusic is a Canadian organization specializing in the performance and the promotion of contemporary classical music. It presents its virtuosic 7-member chamber ensemble, The Array Ensemble, each summer season in a 3-month series of Toronto-based concerts....
, L'Association pour la création et la recherche électroacoustique du Québec, Espace Musique
Espace musique
Espace musique is the French-language music radio service of Canada's national public broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation...
, Music Inter Alia, the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver New Music, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared more than 80 times on CBC Radio and Television as a chamber musician and soloist.
Partial list of works
Stage and Multi Media music- Choros 1971. Tape, colour organ, strobe lights
- Tis Pity, opera. 1980. Live-elec. Ms
Chamber music
- No More Blues, 1976. Trb, 2 synthesizer, tape. Ms
- Slowly I Turn, 1982. Va, percussion, 2 synthesizer, vibraphone, elec. Ms
- Sticherarion, 1984. Acc, tape, digital delay lines. Ms
- Psalm, 1985. Ob, tape. Ms. Centrediscs CMC-CD-3288
- Three Bagatelles, 1986. Gamelan, synthesizer. Ms. Arjuna AR-001 (Evergreen Club)
- Five Pieces for Eight Synthesizers, 1987
- Israfel, 1987. Fl, 8 synths. Trappist CD-9003/4-ACM 37 (Cram fl)
- Ulalume, 1987. Rec, synthesizer. Ms
- Filar il Tuono, 1988. 14 instr. Ms
- Helices, 1988. Bsn, synthesizer. Ms
- Partita, 1989. Cl, synthesizer. Ms
Electroacoustic music
- Eight Studies for Electronic Tape, 1971. Tape
- Homage, 1979. Tape.
- Sonata No. 2., 1981. Tape.
Vocal music
- The Columbine (1980) text by Jones Very for soprano, columbine, tape
- The Devil in the Desert (1980) a setting of five poems by Steven Crane for soprano, vocoder, 4 synthesizer, and delay line