Neil Rolnick
Encyclopedia
Neil B. Rolnick is an American composer
and educator living in New York City
.
Rolnick's compositions have appeared on 16 records and CDs. A pioneer in the use of computers in performance, he was a researcher at the Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique (IRCAM
) in Paris in the late 1970s.
Since 1981 Rolnick has taught at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
, where he founded the iEAR Studios. In 1991, as head of Rensselaer's Arts Departmenthttp://www.arts.rpi.edu, he led the establishment of the nation's first MFA program in Integrated Electronic Arts. As of 2007, he is still a professor at the RPI arts department, commuting weekly from NYC to teach.
Much of Rolnick's musical output involves the use of computers and digital media, but it is generally notable for its accessibility and good humor. His music has been characterized by critics as "sophisticated" (Ken Smith, Grammophone), "hummable and engaging" (Steve Barnes, Albany (NY) Times Union), and as having "good senses of showmanship and humor" (Kyle Gann
, The Village Voice
).
Rolnick studied composition with Darius Milhaud
, John Coolidge Adams
, Andrew Imbrie
, Richard Felciano, and Olly Wilson
. He studied computer music with John Chowning
, and James A. Moorer. He earned his B.A. in English Literature from Harvard in 1969 and his Ph.D. in Music Composition from UC Berkeley in 1980.
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...
and educator living in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Rolnick's compositions have appeared on 16 records and CDs. A pioneer in the use of computers in performance, he was a researcher at the Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique (IRCAM
IRCAM
IRCAM is a European institute for science about music and sound and avant garde electro-acoustical art music. It is situated next to, and is organizationally linked with, the Centre Pompidou in Paris...
) in Paris in the late 1970s.
Since 1981 Rolnick has taught at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
, where he founded the iEAR Studios. In 1991, as head of Rensselaer's Arts Departmenthttp://www.arts.rpi.edu, he led the establishment of the nation's first MFA program in Integrated Electronic Arts. As of 2007, he is still a professor at the RPI arts department, commuting weekly from NYC to teach.
Much of Rolnick's musical output involves the use of computers and digital media, but it is generally notable for its accessibility and good humor. His music has been characterized by critics as "sophisticated" (Ken Smith, Grammophone), "hummable and engaging" (Steve Barnes, Albany (NY) Times Union), and as having "good senses of showmanship and humor" (Kyle Gann
Kyle Gann
Kyle Eugene Gann is an American professor of music, critic and composer born in Dallas, Texas. As a critic for The Village Voice and other publications he has been a supporter of progressive music including such Downtown movements as postminimalism and totalism.- As composer :As a composer his...
, The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
).
Rolnick studied composition with Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
, John Coolidge Adams
John Coolidge Adams
John Coolidge Adams is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer with strong roots in minimalism. His best-known works include Short Ride in a Fast Machine , On the Transmigration of Souls , a choral piece commemorating the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks , and Shaker...
, Andrew Imbrie
Andrew Imbrie
Andrew Welsh Imbrie was an American composer of contemporary classical music.-Career:Imbrie was born in New York on April 6, 1921, and began his musical training as a pianist when he was 4. In 1937, he went to Paris to study briefly with Nadia Boulanger...
, Richard Felciano, and Olly Wilson
Olly Wilson
Olly Woodrow Wilson, Jr. is a prominent American composer of contemporary classical music, pianist, double bassist, and musicologist. He is one of the preeminent living composers of African American descent.-Life:...
. He studied computer music with 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:...
, and James A. Moorer. He earned his B.A. in English Literature from Harvard in 1969 and his Ph.D. in Music Composition from UC Berkeley in 1980.
Discography
- Neil Rolnick: Extended Family (2011) (Innova RecordsInnova RecordsInnova Recordings is the independent record label of the non-profit American Composers Forum, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1982 as a way to document the winners of the McKnight Fellowship offered by its parent organization, the Minnesota Innova Recordings is the independent...
782) - The NYFA Collection: 25 Years of New York New Music (includes The Gathering from Extended Family)(2010) (Innova RecordsInnova RecordsInnova Recordings is the independent record label of the non-profit American Composers Forum, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1982 as a way to document the winners of the McKnight Fellowship offered by its parent organization, the Minnesota Innova Recordings is the independent...
233) - Neil Rolnick: The Economic Engine (2009) (Innova RecordsInnova RecordsInnova Recordings is the independent record label of the non-profit American Composers Forum, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1982 as a way to document the winners of the McKnight Fellowship offered by its parent organization, the Minnesota Innova Recordings is the independent...
724) - Neil Rolnick: Digits (2006) (Innova RecordsInnova RecordsInnova Recordings is the independent record label of the non-profit American Composers Forum, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1982 as a way to document the winners of the McKnight Fellowship offered by its parent organization, the Minnesota Innova Recordings is the independent...
656) - Neil Rolnick: Shadow Quartet (2005) (Innova RecordsInnova RecordsInnova Recordings is the independent record label of the non-profit American Composers Forum, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1982 as a way to document the winners of the McKnight Fellowship offered by its parent organization, the Minnesota Innova Recordings is the independent...
631) - Neil B. Rolnick's Fish Love That (2002) (Deep Listening Records DL 18-2002CD)
- Neil B. Rolnick: Requiem Songs: for the victims of nationalism (1996) (Albany Records Troy188)
- Transforms: The Nerve Event Project (includes NerveUs) (1993) (Cuneiform RecordsCuneiform RecordsCuneiform Records is an independent record label based in Silver Spring, Maryland.The label releases a mixture of musical styles, including progressive jazz, modern fusion music, progressive rock, the Canterbury Scene and electronic music...
55011) - Neil B. Rolnick: Macedonian Air Drumming (1992) (Bridge Records BCD9030)
- Neil B. Rolnick: ElectriCity (1992) (OO Discs #8)
- CDCM Computer Music Series Vol. 11 (includes The Persistence of the Clave) (1992) (Centaur Records CDC2133)
- CDCM Computer Music Seris Vol. 7 (includes Vocal Chords and A Robert Johnson Sampler) (1990) (Centaur Records CRC2047)
- Imaginary Landscapes (includes Balkanization) (1989) (Nonesuch RecordsNonesuch RecordsNonesuch Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:Nonesuch was founded in 1964 by Jac Holzman to produce "fine records at the same price as a trade paperback", which would be half the price of a normal LP...
9 79235-2) - CDCM Computer Music Series Vol. 2 (includes What Is The Use?) (1988) Centaur Records CRC2039)
- Neil B. Rolnick: Real Time/A La Mode (1987) (Composers Recordings, Inc.Composers Recordings, Inc.Composers Recordings, Inc. was an American record label dedicated to the recording of contemporary classical music by American composers. It was founded in 1954 by Otto Luening, Douglas Moore, and Oliver Daniel, and based in New York City....
CRI SD 540) - Neil B. Rolnick: Solos (1984) (1750 Arch Records S-1793)
External links
- Neil Rolnick official site
- http://innova.mu/searchresults.aspx?textfieldName=rolnick&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&submit=submit_yes
- Academic page on RPI's website
Listening
- http://www.neilrolnick.com/sounds/soundcheck031606b.mp3John Schaefer interviews Rolnick on WNYCWNYCWNYC is a set of call letters shared by a pair of co-owned, non-profit, public radio stations located in New York City.WNYC broadcasts on the AM band at 820 kHz, and WNYC-FM is at 93.9 MHz. Both stations are members of National Public Radio and carry distinct, but similar news/talk programs...
] (2006) - http://www.neilrolnick.com/sounds/wamc_interview.mp3Jennifer Nathan interviews Rolnick on WAMCWAMCWAMC is a public radio network headquartered in Albany, New York. As of April, 2011, the network comprised 11 transmitters and 11 translators. The organization's legal name is "WAMC" and it is also known as "WAMC Public Radio" or "WAMC Northeast Public Radio Network."In addition, the station...
] (2005)