Knowledge (XXG)

Peter Gordon (composer)

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227:, “I never really got into that play-the-head-take-turns-soloing-play-the-head-again type of jazz, that dependency on standard repertoire. Also there was something about the jazz players—it was almost athletic in a certain sense. It was always like, who plays the fastest solo? Who's the hottest player? There was this sort of hierarchy, guys who knew all those be-bop solos and played really fast, and a lot of it seemed more about chops than about music. And I began being more interested in exploring a limited set of either musical skills or gestures, and really trying to look at things singularly from different points of view. Also, whatever you do in the jazz hierarchy, you're always competing against 28: 398:, a collaboration with video artist Kit Fitzgerald, his wife and frequent creative partner, premiered at BAM in 1988. According to Sublette, it was “the first fusion of live orchestra and live video projection.” In fact, Gordon and Fitzgerald had merged projection and orchestration on earlier productions outside of New York City, including 219:. He told the critic Geeta Dayal, “...it was really through Beefheart that introduced me to the idea that rock music and pop music could be art simultaneously, and you didn't have to buy into the whole commercial record business. You could make really raw, funky music and have it be really smart at the same time.” 222:
He has said of the development of his style, “....once I started playing sax, I was trained more as a jazz musician than as a classical player. I did study classical music and composition in college, though from more of an experimental music perspective than a conservatory approach.” About jazz,
324:, “created an original kind of continuum between the composed and improvised, and between the acoustic and the virtual, one that gave performers a broad scope to create their own sound and their own parts while hewing to a carefully thought-out composition
” 176:, and Los Angeles. He began piano lessons at age 7 and learned the clarinet in early childhood. He started to play the saxophone, which would become his main instrument, at age 14. His earliest musical influences were jazz artists from 560:
Gordon was involved romantically with Kathy Acker, whom he lived with for six years. He resides in New York City with his wife and collaborator, the video artist Kit Fitzgerald, and is a professor emeritus of Music Technology at
270:, “Initially, I had a very austere, modern, avant-garde classical schooling in San Diego and I rebelled against that
.I always had a mission to create music which integrated the head and the body.” 278:
Gordon has led a varied career: He has helmed his ensemble The Love Of Life Orchestra, collaborated with other composers, and composed works for stage shows, particularly at
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released remixes by Gordon of "Beginning of the Heartbreak/Don't Don't" and "That Hat," cowritten with Arthur Russell. They released a compilation,
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used Gordon's classic Downtown tracks "Beginning of the Heartbreak" and "Don't Don't" to open and close their highly acclaimed dance mix
294:, Though if I had to name a sax hero, that would be John Coltrane.” As a composer, he was heavily influenced by his teacher Terry Riley. 1419: 239: 1449: 495: 152:. He has released several albums and composed scores for film and theater, and he has also toured and re-interpreted the music of 1394: 518: 1424: 1414: 1137: 1434: 974: 593: 1196:"Shelby White & Leon Levy BAM Digital Archive : Production : Secret Pastures [1984f.00005]" 1163: 465: 441: 279: 153: 339:
in 1976, and released as a recording on Unseen Worlds in 2019. He collaborated with writer Kathy Acker, artist
522: 224: 1033: 1384: 421: 1355: 847: 948: 1379: 1009: 538: 336: 562: 453: 282:. About his saxophone playing, Gordon has said, “I always liked the deep-throated R&B sound. 216: 1245:"Stepping Out of The Space: Kit Fitzgerald and Peter Gordon in Conversation with Charles Eppley" 1364: 1171: 457: 360: 298: 212: 552:, consisting of music Gordon and his ensemble recorded in the ‘70s and ‘80s, that same year. 889: 530: 403: 625: 510: 499: 461: 425: 344: 320:
Gordon was an early proponent of Tape Music, which according to musicologist and composer
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in 1984, and had its U.S. premiere at Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1985. His score for
247: 243: 228: 1373: 503: 372: 255: 251: 232: 205: 157: 1195: 1138:"How "Trust In Rock" Concerts Changed Berkeley's Musical Landscape For the Weirder" 583: 429: 380: 328: 321: 310: 302: 287: 189: 185: 1286: 1059:"Peter Gordon on Arthur Russell: 'I miss him as a friend and as a collaborator'" 879: 545: 484: 472: 384: 359:, a collaboration with the Neapolitan theater company Falso Movimiento, won the 340: 314: 306: 291: 283: 259: 201: 181: 177: 149: 121: 117: 705:"Beautiful Dreamer" b/w "Still You" 12” (Colette is Dead Records 1979/DFA 2010) 534: 445: 376: 364: 263: 137: 1175: 476: 352: 387:, which premiered at BAM in 1984. His work on that production, as well as 483:, used to introduce the designer's 1986 collection, which was directed by 1346: 169: 1351: 1360: 1095: 197: 173: 1010:"Peter Gordon: The Love of Life Orchestra Founder's Formative Years" 488: 407: 141: 129: 215:
and spent time at Beefheart's home studio while he was recording
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In 2015, Gordon directed a touring revival of Arthur Russell's
1339: 1268: 728:"Oh Men" b/w "I Couldn't Say it To Your Face" (O Genesis 2014) 391:, earned him a 1985 Bessie award in the category of Composer. 211:
When he was a senior in high school, Gordon made friends with
124:, pianist and experimental composer, whose influences include 367:
in 1985.  That same year, Gordon composed the score for
731:"Tracks of My Past" b/w "Like I Already Do" (O Genesis 2015) 335:
recordings, performed live at the University Art Museum in
1310: 1269:"Arthur Russell's Instrumentals Directed by Peter Gordon" 99: 1034:"BOMB Magazine | Roses on the Disco Floor: Peter Gordon" 525:. Gordon wrote the scores for the serial mystery drama 471:
Gordon has collaborated on a number of occasions with
156:, on whose compositions he played, as well as that of 424:, he has appeared on or composed music for albums by 301:
in the late 1970s. At various points Arthur Russell,
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Center for Contemporary Music, where he studied with
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The Society Architect Ponders the Golden Gate Bridge
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The Society Architect Ponders the Golden Gate Bridge
94: 90: 80: 72: 52: 42: 37: 18: 640:(with the Balanescu String Quartet, Newtone, 1994) 297:Gordon co-founded The Love of Life Orchestra with 168:Gordon was born in New York City, and grew up in 949:"An Interview with Peter Gordon – WUOG 90.5 FM" 785:(with Robert Ashley et al., Lovely Music, 1991) 420:In addition to his own work, and that with his 975:"Interview | Peter Gordon | Manipulating Time" 317:were collaborators in Love of Life Orchestra. 868:, curated by James Murphy & Pat Mahoney ( 509:In 2008 an excerpt of his opera (with artist 8: 1287:"Expedition — Willi Smith Community Archive" 700:Justine & Victorian Punks (aka Colette) 26: 15: 876:Peter Gordon & Love of Life Orchestra 550:Peter Gordon & Love Of Life Orchestra 417:, whose first showing he scored in 1975. 823:"That Hat" (included on Gordon's record 760:"Westmusik" 12" (Zickzack Records, 1983) 1164:"OPERA: 'BIRTH OF A POET,' AVANT-GARDE" 902: 371:, a collaboration with choreographers 1119:Cowley, Julian (2015). "Symphony 5". 331:a number of times, including for the 238:Gordon earned a BA in composition at 7: 1455:21st-century American male musicians 1440:Jazz musicians from New York (state) 1132: 1130: 1090: 1088: 1086: 1084: 1082: 1080: 1078: 1004: 1002: 1000: 998: 996: 994: 969: 967: 965: 943: 941: 939: 937: 912: 910: 908: 906: 517:was issued on the compilation album 116:(born June 20, 1951) is an American 240:University of California, San Diego 1445:21st-century American saxophonists 1410:American male film score composers 814:"Clean On Your Bean" b/w "Go Bang" 695:  CD (New Tone Records, 1995) 14: 798:(Les Disques du CrĂ©puscule, 1982) 1347:Gordon biography at Lovely Music 817:"Kiss Me Again" 12" (Sire, 1978) 804:(excerpt on Bridge Records 2008) 519:Crosstalk: American Speech Music 76:Composer, producer, orchestrator 1430:American experimental musicians 735:Same Language, Different Worlds 693:Love of Life Orchestra: Quartet 1460:Love of Life Orchestra members 1: 1405:American film score composers 1162:Rockwell, John (1985-12-05). 1014:daily.redbullmusicacademy.com 521:(Bridge Records) produced by 223:though, he told the composer 1400:American male jazz composers 1390:Composers from New York City 1291:Willismitharchive.cargo.site 773: LP (Lovely Music 1980) 687:Geneva and Extended Niceties 671:  EP (Lust/Unlust 1979) 1243:Burns, Jamie (2018-03-27). 718:CD/LP (Unseen Worlds, 2019) 1476: 1420:American male saxophonists 862:(Disques Crepescule, 1982) 833:(reissued on Audika, 2017) 689:CD (Newtone reissue, 1992) 638:Still Life and the Deadman 608:LP (CBS Masterworks, 1986) 250:; he earned an MFA at the 1450:21st-century clarinetists 860:Fruit of the Original Sin 844:Sugar, Alcohol & Meat 683:EP (Italian Records 1982) 663:W/ Love of Life Orchestra 594:Les Disques du CrĂ©puscule 280:Brooklyn Academy of Music 262:. Discussing his time in 25: 1096:"Peter Gordon Biography" 710:With "Blue" Gene Tyranny 592:, with Lawrence Weiner ( 487:and shot on location in 402:, a 1984 performance at 242:, where he studied with 164:Early life and education 1395:American jazz composers 820:"Love is Overtaking Me" 737:CD/LP (O Genesis, 2016) 452:, “Blue” Gene Tyranny, 779:EP (Lovely Music 1981) 422:Love of Life Orchestra 38:Background information 1425:American clarinetists 1415:American keyboardists 848:Giorno Poetry Systems 750:(Piano Records, 1996) 742:With David Cunningham 677:LP (Lust/Unlust 1980) 634:CD/LP (Newtone, 1990) 523:Mendi + Keith Obadike 479:, including the film 400:Return of the Animals 349:The Birth Of The Poet 327:He collaborated with 114:Peter Laurence Gordon 48:Peter Laurence Gordon 1435:Bessie Award winners 854:Just Another Asshole 790:With Lawrence Weiner 652:(Foom Music EP 2017) 539:Desperate Housewives 396:Return of the Native 1200:levyarchive.bam.org 809:With Arthur Russell 755:With Thomas Fehlman 602:(Artservices, 1984) 533:. He worked on the 498:and Pat Mahoney of 329:“Blue” Gene Tyranny 1315:Bloomfield College 1311:"Music Technology" 1168:The New York Times 765:With Robert Ashley 563:Bloomfield College 454:The Flying Lizards 351:, which opened in 217:Trout Mask Replica 1040:. 12 October 2010 777:Music, Word, Fire 669:Extended Niceties 458:David Van Tieghem 299:David Van Tieghem 213:Captain Beefheart 108: 107: 68:New York City, US 1467: 1343: 1342: 1340:Official website 1325: 1324: 1322: 1321: 1307: 1301: 1300: 1298: 1297: 1283: 1277: 1276: 1265: 1259: 1258: 1256: 1255: 1240: 1234: 1233: 1231: 1230: 1216: 1210: 1209: 1207: 1206: 1192: 1186: 1185: 1183: 1182: 1159: 1153: 1152: 1150: 1149: 1134: 1125: 1124: 1116: 1110: 1109: 1107: 1106: 1092: 1073: 1072: 1070: 1069: 1055: 1049: 1048: 1046: 1045: 1030: 1024: 1023: 1021: 1020: 1006: 989: 988: 986: 985: 971: 960: 959: 957: 956: 945: 932: 931: 929: 928: 922:Testpressing.org 914: 890:Late Night Tales 886:Late Night Tales 723:With Tim Burgess 632:Leningrad Xpress 618:, cassette 1987) 531:The Talking Band 448:, Gabe Gurnsey, 394:His composition 309:, Ernie Brooks, 104: 101: 83: 66: 62: 60: 45: 30: 16: 1475: 1474: 1470: 1469: 1468: 1466: 1465: 1464: 1370: 1369: 1338: 1337: 1334: 1329: 1328: 1319: 1317: 1309: 1308: 1304: 1295: 1293: 1285: 1284: 1280: 1267: 1266: 1262: 1253: 1251: 1242: 1241: 1237: 1228: 1226: 1220:"Award Archive" 1218: 1217: 1213: 1204: 1202: 1194: 1193: 1189: 1180: 1178: 1161: 1160: 1156: 1147: 1145: 1136: 1135: 1128: 1118: 1117: 1113: 1104: 1102: 1094: 1093: 1076: 1067: 1065: 1063:The Irish Times 1057: 1056: 1052: 1043: 1041: 1032: 1031: 1027: 1018: 1016: 1008: 1007: 992: 983: 981: 979:15questions.net 973: 972: 963: 954: 952: 947: 946: 935: 926: 924: 916: 915: 904: 899: 840: 811: 792: 767: 757: 744: 725: 712: 702: 665: 626:CBS Masterworks 600:Secret Pastures 576: 571: 558: 529:, presented by 511:Lawrence Weiner 500:LCD Soundsystem 462:Lawrence Weiner 426:Laurie Anderson 383:, and designer 369:Secret Pastures 345:Richard Foreman 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Johansen 275: 272: 266:, Gordon told 248:Roger Reynolds 244:Kenneth Gaburo 229:Charlie Parker 165: 162: 154:Arthur Russell 110:Musical artist 109: 106: 105: 96: 92: 91: 88: 87: 84: 78: 77: 74: 70: 69: 54: 50: 49: 46: 40: 39: 35: 34: 32:Gordon in 2015 31: 23: 22: 19: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1472: 1461: 1458: 1456: 1453: 1451: 1448: 1446: 1443: 1441: 1438: 1436: 1433: 1431: 1428: 1426: 1423: 1421: 1418: 1416: 1413: 1411: 1408: 1406: 1403: 1401: 1398: 1396: 1393: 1391: 1388: 1386: 1385:Living people 1383: 1381: 1378: 1377: 1375: 1366: 1362: 1359: 1357: 1353: 1350: 1348: 1345: 1341: 1336: 1335: 1331: 1316: 1312: 1306: 1303: 1292: 1288: 1282: 1279: 1274: 1270: 1264: 1261: 1250: 1246: 1239: 1236: 1225: 1221: 1215: 1212: 1201: 1197: 1191: 1188: 1177: 1173: 1169: 1165: 1158: 1155: 1143: 1139: 1133: 1131: 1127: 1122: 1115: 1112: 1101: 1097: 1091: 1089: 1087: 1085: 1083: 1081: 1079: 1075: 1064: 1060: 1054: 1051: 1039: 1038:BOMB Magazine 1035: 1029: 1026: 1015: 1011: 1005: 1003: 1001: 999: 997: 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Index

A man with glasses and felt hat wearing a leather jacket.
petergordon.com
saxophonist
clarinetist
jazz
disco
funk
rock
opera
classical
world music
Arthur Russell
Robert Ashley
Virginia
Munich
New Orleans
The Shadows
The Ventures
Albert Ayler
Igor Stravinsky
Sun Ra
The Animals
The Yardbirds
Captain Beefheart
Trout Mask Replica
Nick Hallett
Charlie Parker
John Coltrane
University of California, San Diego
Kenneth Gaburo

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