(b. 10 August 1934, Silver City, New Mexico – d. 24 August 2006, Valencia, Santa Clarita, California).
American composer, later resident in both Canada and the USA, of mostly orchestral, chamber, piano, and electroacoustic works that have been performed throughout the world; he was also active as a scholar.
Prof. Tenney studied composition and engineering at the University of Denver from 1952–54 and piano with Eduard Steuermann at the Juilliard School in New York, New York in 1954–55. He then studied composition with Lionel Nowak and conducting with Paul Boepple and Henry Brant at Bennington College in Vermont from 1956–58, where he earned his BA, and studied composition with Kenneth Gaburo and electronic music with Lejaren Hiller at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign from 1959–61 and there he earned his MA. He also studied composition privately with John Cage, Chou Wen-chung, Carl Ruggles, and Edgard Varèse. He later received an honorary doctorate from the Dartington College of Arts in Devon in 2000.
As a scholar, he worked to develop programmes for computer music with Max Mathews and other researchers at Bell Labs in New Jersey from 1961–64. He wrote numerous articles on computer music, musical acoustics, musical form, and perception, as well as the books META/HODOS: A Phenomenology of 20th-Century Musical Materials and an Approach to the Study of Form (1961) and META Meta/Hodos (1975; published together by Frog Peak Music, 1988) and the text A History of 'Consonance' and 'Dissonance' (1988, Excelsior Music Publishing Company).
He was also active in other positions. He co-founded with Philip Corner and Malcolm Goldstein the Tone Roads Chamber Ensemble in New York, New York in 1963, a group for contemporary music that performed until 1970. In addition, he performed with the ensembles of John Cage, Philip Glass, Harry Partch, and Steve Reich.
He taught electrical engineering at the New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering from 1966–70 and musical subjects at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, Santa Clarita from 1970–75 and the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1975–76. He then taught composition at York University in Toronto from 1976–2000, where he was Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus from 2000–06. He taught as the Roy E. Disney Family Chair in Music Composition at the California Institute of the Arts from 2000–06.
His publishers are Smith Publications, for most music written from 1956–87, and Frog Peak Music, for music written from 1987–2006.
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE:
Choreogram, dancers, any number of players, 1964
deus ex machina, tam-tam, live electronics, unwary audience, 1982
ORCHESTRAL:
Quiet Fan for Erik Satie, small orchestra (13 players), 1970–71
For 12 Strings (rising), 12 strings, 1971
Clang, 1972
Three Harmonic Studies, 1974
Chorales, 1974
Tangled Rag, string orchestra, 1978 (version of no. 3 from Three Rags)
The Road to Ubud, prepared piano, gamelan, 1986
Forms 1–4, variable orchestra (16 or more players), 1993 (its sections may be performed separately)
In a large, open space, variable orchestra (12 or more players), 1994
In a large, reverberant space, variable orchestra (12 or more players), 1995
Spectrum 3, small orchestra (20 players), 1995
Diapason, 1996
'Scend for Scelsi, alto saxophone, small orchestra (13 players), 1996
Song 'n' Dance for Harry Partch, adapted viola (instrument by Harry Partch), diamond marimba (instrument by Harry Partch), small orchestra (percussion, strings), 1999
Last Spring in Toronto, gamelan, orchestra, 2000
For Piano and..., piano, variable orchestra (15 or more players), 2005
Panacousticon, 2005
CHAMBER MUSIC:
String Quartet in One Movement, string quartet, 1955
Seeds I–VI, flute, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, violin, cello, 1956, revised 1961
Sonata, piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, alto saxophone, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, 1958, revised 1983
Just a Bagatelle, viola, 1959, revised 1999
Monody, clarinet, 1959
Stochastic String Quartet, string quartet, 1963
Instrumental Response, any wind instrument/any brass instrument/any bowed string instrument/piano/percussion, fixed media (Ergodos I or Ergodos II), 1964
Postal Piece No. 5: Maximusic, percussion, 1965
Postal Piece No. 6: Swell Piece No. 1, any number of instruments capable of sustained tones, 1967
Postal Piece No. 1: Beast, double bass, 1971
Postal Piece No. 3: (night), percussion, 1971
Postal Piece No. 4: Koan, violin, 1971
Postal Piece No. 7a: Swell Piece No. 2, any player, 1971
Postal Piece No. 7b: Swell Piece No. 3, any player, 1971
Postal Piece No. 8: August Harp, harp, 1971
Postal Piece No. 9: Cellogram, cello, 1971
Postal Piece No. 10: Having Never Written a Note for Percussion, percussion, 1971
Quintext I–V: Five Textures, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 1972
In the Aeolian Mode, prepared piano, variable ensemble, 1973
Canon, 4 double basses, 1973
Chorale, violin, piano, 1974, revised 1998
Three Pieces for Mechanical Drum, mechanical drum, 1974
Three Pieces for Drum Quartet, 4 percussion, 1974–75
Harmonium No. 1, variable ensemble, 1975–76
Harmonium No. 2, variable ensemble, 1975–76
Harmonium No. 3, 3 harps, 1978, revised 1980
Harmonium No. 4, 10 players, live electronics, 1978
Harmonium No. 5, violin, viola, cello, 1978
Saxony, 1 or more saxophones, live electronics, 1978
Three Indigenous Songs, 2 piccolos, alto flute, bassoon/tuba, 2 percussion, 1979
Septet, 6 electric guitars, bass guitar, 1981, revised 2000
Glissade, viola, cello, double bass, live electronics, 1982
Milk and Honey, any number of mandolins, any number of mandolas, any number of mandocellos, 1983 (version of no. 2 from Three Rags)
Koan, string quartet, 1984
Changes: 64 Studies, 6 harps, 1985
'Water on the Mountain...Fire in Heaven', 6 electric guitars, 1985
Rune, 5 percussion, 1988
Critical Band, 10 or more instruments capable of sustained tones, 1988, revised 2000
Tableaux Vivants, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), soprano saxophone (+ baritone saxophone), bassoon, violin, piano, vibraphone, 1990
Pika-Don, 4 percussion, fixed media (4 tracks), 1991
Three New Seeds, clarinet (+ bass clarinet), trumpet, double bass, piano, 2 percussion, 1991
Cognate Canons, percussion, string quartet, 1993
Tempest II, mechanical drum, 1994
Spectrum 1, bass clarinet, trumpet, violin, double bass, piano, 2 percussion, 1995
Spectrum 2, flute, English horn, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1995
Spectrum 4, alto recorder, bass clarinet, tenor-bass trombone, electric guitar, violin, double bass, piano, vibraphone, 1995
Spectrum 5, flute, oboe, bass clarinet, bassoon, harp, viola, cello, double bass, piano, percussion, 1995
Diaphonic Study, piano, string quartet, 1997
Diaphonic Toccata, violin, piano, 1997
Diaphonic Trio, violin, piano, 1997
Seegersong No. 1, clarinet, 1999
Seegersong No. 2, flute/alto flute, 1999
Harmonium No. 7, any 8 or more instruments capable of sustained tones, 2000
(Fontana) MIX for SIX (Strings), 2 violins, 3 violas, cello, live electronics ad libitum, 2001
Spectrum 6, flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion, 2001
Spectrum 7, flute, cello, piano, live electronics, 2001
Spectrum 8, viola, ensemble (flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano, vibraphone), 2001
Mallets in the Air (Song 'n' Dance for Harry Partch part 2), diamond marimba, string quartet, 2002
Just Another Bagatelle, violin, cello, 2004
Arbor Vitæ, string quartet, 2006
CHORAL:
Postal Piece No. 2: A Rose is a Rose is a Round, mixed chorus, 1970
'Hey when I sing these 4 songs hey look what happens' (text from a source of the Iroquois people [translated by Jerome Rothenberg]), mixed chorus, 1971
VOCAL:
Thirteen Ways of looking at a Blackbird (text by Wallace Stevens), tenor, 2 flutes, violin, viola, cello, 1958 (also version for bass, alto flute, oboe, viola, cello, double bass, 1971)
'Listen...!', 3 sopranos, piano, 1981, revised 1984
Voice(s), any number of female voices, variable ensemble ad libitum, live electronics, 1982–83
Sneezles, soprano, alto recorder/flute, clarinet, tenor-bass trombone, electric guitar, violin, double bass, vibraphone, 1986, revised 1995
Ain't I a Woman? (text by Sojourner Truth), speaker–cello, 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, celesta, 1992
PIANO:
Music for Player Piano, player piano, 1964
Three Rags, 1969 (also version of no. 2, 'Milk and Honey', for any number of mandolins, any number of mandolas, any number of mandocellos; version of no. 3, 'Tangled Rag', for string orchestra, 1978)
Spectral CANON for CONLON Nancarrow, player piano, 1974 (also longer version, 1991)
Chromatic Canon, 2 pianos, 1980, revised 1983
Bridge, 2 microtonal pianos 8 hands, 1982–84
Flocking, 2 quarter-tone pianos, 1993
Ergodos III, 2 pianos, 1994
Three Pages in the Shape of a Pear, 1995
Prelude and Toccata, 2001
To Weave (a meditation), 2002–03
Essay (After a Sonata), 2004
ELECTROACOUSTIC:
Collage No. 1 (Blue Suede), fixed media, 1961
Analog No. 1: Noise Study, fixed media, 1961
Entrance/Exit Music, fixed media, 1962 (collaboration with George Brecht)
Dialogue, fixed media, 1963
Phases, fixed media, 1963
Ergodos I, fixed media, 1963 (may be performed with Instrumental Response)
Ergodos II, fixed media, 1964 (may be performed with Instrumental Response)
Fabric for Che, fixed media, 1967
For Ann (rising), fixed media, 1969
Form 5, fixed media, 1993
ARRANGEMENTS:
Love me do–Do you want to know a secret? (The Beatles), piano, 1992
Five Studies for Player Piano (Conlon Nancarrow), small orchestra (with 2 conductors), 2000
FILM SCORES (DIRECTOR):
Interim, 1952, revised 1998 (Stan Brakhage)
Viet Flakes, 1966 (Carolee Schneemann)
Brakhage, 1998 (Jim Shedden)
DISCOGRAPHY (as arranger)
Love me do–Do you want to know a secret? (The Beatles). Aki Takahashi, piano (Toshiba EMI: TOCE-8021, 1992)
DISCOGRAPHY (as composer)
Harmonium No. 5. Arraymusic (Artifact Music: ART-002, 1988)
Postal Piece No. 4: Koan. Malcolm Goldstein, violin (¿What Next?: WN0005, 1991)
Critical Band (original version). Relâche (Mode Records: mode 22, 1992)
Collage No. 1 (Blue Suede); Analog No. 1: Noise Study; Dialogue; Phases; Music for Player Piano; Ergodos II; Fabric for Che; For Ann (rising). (Artifact Music: ART-1007/Frog Peak Music: FP001, 1992)
Chromatic Canon (revised version). Edmund Niemann, Nurit Tilles, pianos (Composers Recordings, Inc.: CRI 637, 1992)
Ergodos I. (Koch International Classics: KIC-CD-3-7238-2, 1993)
Viet Flakes. (Musicworks: 56, 1993)
Three New Seeds. Michael J. Baker/Arraymusic (Artifact Music: ART-006, 1993)
Tableaux Vivants. Sound Pressure (Soundprints: SP9301, 1994)
Spectral CANON for CONLON Nancarrow (revised version). (col legno: WWE 31882, 1995)
'Water on the Mountain...Fire in Heaven'. Seth Josel, electric guitars (Composers Recordings, Inc.: CRI 697, 1995)
Three New Seeds. Michael J. Baker/Arraymusic (Canada Council for the Arts/Sony Music Special Projects: CDSP 4510, 1995)
Koan. Modern String Quartet (Musicworks: 64, 1996)
Saxony. Henrik Frisk, saxophone (Hornblower: HR 96101, 1996)
Bridge; Flocking. Tomas Bächli, Erika Radermacher, Gertrud Schneider, Manfred Werder, pianos (Hat Hut: ART 6193, 1996)
Septet (original version). Mills College Ensemble (Leonardo Music Journal: 7, 1997)
Saxony. Ulrich Krieger, saxophone (OOdiscs: 32, 1997)
Diaphonic Study. Hildegard Kleeb, piano; Tetras String Quartet (ORF Steiermark: MP97 ORF 15, 1997)
Diapason. Kwamé Ryan/SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg (col legno: WWE 20008, 1997)
Rune. Nexus (Nexus: 10511, 1997)
Septet (original version). Seth Josel, electric guitars, bass guitar (OOdiscs: 36, 1998)
Postal Piece No. 3: (night); Postal Piece No. 5: Maximusic; Postal Piece No. 10: Having Never Written a Note for Percussion; deus ex machina; Instrumental Response (with Ergodos II). Matthias Kaul, percussion (Hat Hut: hat[now]ART 111, 1998)
Tangled Rag from Three Rags (original version). Virginia Eskin, piano (Koch International Classics: KIC-CD-3-7440-2, 1998)
The Road to Ubud. Henry Kucharzyk, prepared piano; Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan (Artifact Music: ART-021, 1999)
Diaphonic Toccata; Diaphonic Trio; Postal Piece No. 4: Koan; Three Pages in the Shape of a Pear; Chorale (revised version); Instrumental Response (with Ergodos II). Sabat/Clarke Duo (Hat Hut: hat[now]ART 120, 1999)
Postal Piece No. 10: Having Never Written a Note for Percussion. Sonic Youth (Sonic Youth: 4, 1999)
Chorale (revised version). Sabat/Clarke Duo (Musicworks: 77, 2000)
Milk and Honey from Three Rags (original version). Elaine Keillor, piano (BR: 1336, 2001)
Instrumental Response (with Ergodos I). (University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, 2001)
Forms 1–4. musikFabrik (Hat Hut: hat[now]ART 127, 2002)
Spectral CANON for CONLON Nancarrow (revised version). (Cold Blue Music: CB0008, 2002)
Postal Piece No. 5: Maximusic; Postal Piece No. 6: Swell Piece No. 1; Postal Piece No. 2: A Rose is a Rose is a Round; Postal Piece No. 1: Beast; Postal Piece No. 7a: Swell Piece No. 2; Postal Piece No. 10: Having Never Written a Note for Percussion; Postal Piece No. 4: Koan; Postal Piece No. 3: (night); Postal Piece No. 7b: Swell Piece No. 3; Postal Piece No. 9: Cellogram; Postal Piece No. 8: August Harp. James Fulkerson/Barton Workshop (New World Records: 80612-2, 2004)
Arbor Vitæ; Saxony (version for string quartet); Stochastic String Quartet; String Quartet in One Movement; Koan; Cognate Canons; Diaphonic Study; Quintext I–V: Five Textures. Miriam Shalinsky, double bass; Eve Egoyan, piano; Richard Sacks, percussion; Quatuor Bozzini (Collection QB: CQB 0806, 2008)
Spectrum 1; Spectrum 2; Spectrum 3; Spectrum 4; Spectrum 5; Spectrum 6; Spectrum 7; Spectrum 8. Frank Denyer, James Fulkerson/Barton Workshop (New World Records: 80692-2, 2009)
Critical Band; Harmonium No. 2; Postal Piece No. 10: Having Never Written a Note for Percussion. zeitkratzer (zeitkratzer records: zkr 0010, 2010)
Postal Piece No. 10: Having Never Written a Note for Percussion. William Winant, percussion (Poon Village Records: PV 007LP, 2014) (LP)
Music for Player Piano; Spectral CANON for CONLON Nancarrow (revised version). (Musikproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm: MDG 645 1406-2)
Three Rags. Nurit Tilles, piano (Jazzology: JCE 87)
The Road to Ubud; Cognate Canons; Three Pieces for Drum Quartet. William Winant/San Francisco Contemporary Music Players (New Albion Records)
Rune; Pika-Don; Three Pieces for Drum Quartet; Postal Piece No. 5: Maximusic. Jan Williams/Maelstrom (Hat Hut)