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Herbert Brün

November 30, 2023

Herbert Brün (July 9, 1918 – November 6, 2000) was a composer, pioneer of electronic and computer music, and cybernetician. Born in Berlin, Germany, he taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1962 until he retired, several years before his death.

Career edit

Brün left Germany in 1936 to study piano and composition at the Jerusalem Conservatory (later renamed Israel Academy of Music) in (then) Palestine[1] with Stefan Wolpe, Eli Friedman and Frank Pelleg. While in Palestine, he also worked as a jazz pianist. In 1948, he received a scholarship to further his studies at Tanglewood and Columbia University through 1950.[2]

His work as an electronic-music composer began in Paris in the late 1950s, at the WDR studio in Cologne, and at the Siemens studio in Munich.[3] During the 1950s, he also worked as composer and conductor of music for the theater, gave lectures and seminars emphasizing the function of music in society, and did a series of broadcasts on contemporary music.[2]

 
Herbert Brün in his studio (1995)

After a lecture tour of the United States in 1962, he was invited by Lejaren Hiller to join the University of Illinois Center for Advanced Computation for 1963-64, at the conclusion of which he was asked to stay on as a member of the faculty.[2] In Illinois, Brün began research on composition with computers, which resulted in pieces for tape and instruments, tape alone, and graphics.[3] His compositions from this period include Futility 1964 (1964) and Non Sequitur VI (1966). Non Sequitur VI was generated using the MUSICOMP programming language developed by Hiller and Robert Baker at the Experimental Music Studios.[4]

Brün began programming in FORTRAN in the late 1960s as he pursued an interest in designing processes. This work resulted in Infraudibles (1968) and mutatis mutandis (1968). The latter was a series of computer graphics for interpretation by composer/performers.

 
series: mutatis mutandis 242; random seed: 540802

From 1968–74, he co-taught courses at the Biological Computer Lab with Heinz von Foerster (Professor of Electrical Engineering, Physics, and Biology) on cybernetics, heuristics, composition, cognition, and social change. In 1974, the members of the class published the book The Cybernetics of Cybernetics.[2]

In 1972, Brün created a new synthesis technique which generated new timbres by linking and merging tiny portions of waveforms. (Efforts along similar lines are described in the article Granular synthesis.) From 1980 on, he toured and taught with the Performers' Workshop Ensemble, a group he founded.

 
The Performers Workshop Ensemble. Left to right: Lesley Olson, Sam Magrill, Pam Richman, Susan Parenti, Arun Chandra, Mark Sullivan, Mark Enslin

Brün was instrumental in helping the then fledgling Computer Music Association get started in the middle 1970s, helping host conferences at the University of Illinois in 1975, and again in 1987. He was invited to give the keynote address at their annual conference in 1985.[2]

Brün was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Goethe University Frankfurt (1999), and the Norbert Wiener medal from the American Society for Cybernetics in 1993. He helped found the School for Designing a Society in 1993 and taught there through the year 2000. His awards and honors also include the SEAMUS Award for Lifelong Achievement (2000), and a prize from the International Society of Bassists (1977). In 1969, he was Distinguished Visiting Professor at Ohio State University. He was one of two participants from the United States invited by UNESCO to their symposium Music and Technology (1970). He was Guest Professor invited jointly by the Hochschule der Künste and the Technische Universität Berlin (1978); Composer in residence at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (May 1982); Composer in Residence at the University of Missouri (Kansas City) (1983); and Guest Composer at the annual convention of the Percussive Arts Society, St. Louis (1987).[2]

Brün's students at the University of Illinois were referred to, often pejoratively, as Brünettes.[5] His notable students include Stuart Saunders Smith and Sarah Hennies.

Life edit

Herbert Brün was born to a German Jewish family in Berlin. Many of his relatives died in the Holocaust during World War II.[6][7][8][9] He was married to Marianne Brün, an intellectual, writer, and teacher of social theory; she was the daughter of the famous German actors Fritz Kortner and Johanna Hofer.[10]

Selected works edit

  • Five Pieces for piano, Op.1 (1940–45)
  • Sonatina for viola alone, Op.12 (1950)
  • String Quartet No.2 (1957)
  • Anepigraphe (1958) (tape alone)
  • Klange unterwegs ('Wayfaring Sounds') (1962) (tape alone)
  • Trio, for flute, double-bass, and percussion (1964)
  • Futility 1964 (tape alone)
  • Sonoriferous Loops (1964) (chamber ensemble and tape)
  • Infraudibles (1968/1984) (optional chamber ensemble and tape)
  • Piece of Prose (1972) (tape alone)
  • Dust (1976) (SAWDUST No. 1) (tape alone)
  • More Dust (1977) (SAWDUST No. 2) (optional percussion and tape)
  • Dustiny (1978) (SAWDUST No. 3) (tape alone)
  • A Mere Ripple (1979) (SAWDUST No. 4) (tape alone)
  • U-TURN-TO (1980) (SAWDUST No. 5) (tape alone)
  • I toLD YOU so! (1981) (SAWDUST No. 6) (tape alone)
  • Sentences Now Open Wide (SNOW) (1984)
  • on stilts among ducks (1996) (viola and tape)

Publications edit

  • Brün, Herbert. Über Musik und zum Computer. Karlsruhe: G. Braun, 1971. Accompanied by a 10-inch LP recording.
  • Computer-generated graphics. Computer Music Journal, Vol. 5, No. 2, summer, 1981.
  • Brün, Herbert. My Words and Where I Want Them. Champaign, IL; London: Princelet Editions, 1990. ISBN 0-86298-028-3
  • Brün, Herbert. Irresistible Observations, edited by Mark Enslin, Susan Parenti, Andrew Trull. Champaign, IL: Non Sequitur Press. ISBN 0-9662448-6-9
  • Brün, Herbert. Sighs in Disguise, edited by Mark Enslin, Susan Parenti, Andrew Trull. Champaign, IL: Non Sequitur Press. ISBN 0-9662448-5-0
  • Brün, Herbert. When Music Resists Meaning: The Major Writings of Herbert Brün, edited by Arun Chandra. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 2004. ISBN 0-8195-6669-1 (cloth) ISBN 0-8195-6670-5 (pbk.)

Citations edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Gluck, 2006.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Chandra, 2004.
  3. ^ a b Enslin, 2001.
  4. ^ "History of EMS".
  5. ^ Kowalkowski, Summer 2008, p. 239.
  6. ^ "A Heartbreaking Letter from a Muslim American to Non-Muslim Allies". 10 December 2015.
  7. ^ "To Herbert Brün | Donnacha Dennehy".
  8. ^ "S/R 20: An Appeal from American Jews to the Green Party of Germany to Stop the Bombing of Yugoslavia".
  9. ^ "Twenty Israeli Composers: Voices of a Culture 081432648X, 9780814326480".
  10. ^ The News-Gazette 2014.

References edit

External links edit

  • Herbert Brün website
  • at the Wayback Machine (archived February 24, 2005)
  • Brün article: Technology and the Composer
  • Brün article: Teaching the Function of Time in Art
  • Articles and associated works

November 30, 2023
herbert, brün, july, 1918, november, 2000, composer, pioneer, electronic, computer, music, cybernetician, born, berlin, germany, taught, university, illinois, urbana, champaign, from, 1962, until, retired, several, years, before, death, contents, career, life,. Herbert Brun July 9 1918 November 6 2000 was a composer pioneer of electronic and computer music and cybernetician Born in Berlin Germany he taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign from 1962 until he retired several years before his death Contents 1 Career 2 Life 3 Selected works 4 Publications 5 Citations 5 1 Notes 5 2 References 6 External linksCareer editBrun left Germany in 1936 to study piano and composition at the Jerusalem Conservatory later renamed Israel Academy of Music in then Palestine 1 with Stefan Wolpe Eli Friedman and Frank Pelleg While in Palestine he also worked as a jazz pianist In 1948 he received a scholarship to further his studies at Tanglewood and Columbia University through 1950 2 His work as an electronic music composer began in Paris in the late 1950s at the WDR studio in Cologne and at the Siemens studio in Munich 3 During the 1950s he also worked as composer and conductor of music for the theater gave lectures and seminars emphasizing the function of music in society and did a series of broadcasts on contemporary music 2 nbsp Herbert Brun in his studio 1995 After a lecture tour of the United States in 1962 he was invited by Lejaren Hiller to join the University of Illinois Center for Advanced Computation for 1963 64 at the conclusion of which he was asked to stay on as a member of the faculty 2 In Illinois Brun began research on composition with computers which resulted in pieces for tape and instruments tape alone and graphics 3 His compositions from this period include Futility 1964 1964 and Non Sequitur VI 1966 Non Sequitur VI was generated using the MUSICOMP programming language developed by Hiller and Robert Baker at the Experimental Music Studios 4 Brun began programming in FORTRAN in the late 1960s as he pursued an interest in designing processes This work resulted in Infraudibles 1968 and mutatis mutandis 1968 The latter was a series of computer graphics for interpretation by composer performers nbsp series mutatis mutandis 242 random seed 540802From 1968 74 he co taught courses at the Biological Computer Lab with Heinz von Foerster Professor of Electrical Engineering Physics and Biology on cybernetics heuristics composition cognition and social change In 1974 the members of the class published the book The Cybernetics of Cybernetics 2 In 1972 Brun created a new synthesis technique which generated new timbres by linking and merging tiny portions of waveforms Efforts along similar lines are described in the article Granular synthesis From 1980 on he toured and taught with the Performers Workshop Ensemble a group he founded nbsp The Performers Workshop Ensemble Left to right Lesley Olson Sam Magrill Pam Richman Susan Parenti Arun Chandra Mark Sullivan Mark EnslinBrun was instrumental in helping the then fledgling Computer Music Association get started in the middle 1970s helping host conferences at the University of Illinois in 1975 and again in 1987 He was invited to give the keynote address at their annual conference in 1985 2 Brun was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Goethe University Frankfurt 1999 and the Norbert Wiener medal from the American Society for Cybernetics in 1993 He helped found the School for Designing a Society in 1993 and taught there through the year 2000 His awards and honors also include the SEAMUS Award for Lifelong Achievement 2000 and a prize from the International Society of Bassists 1977 In 1969 he was Distinguished Visiting Professor at Ohio State University He was one of two participants from the United States invited by UNESCO to their symposium Music and Technology 1970 He was Guest Professor invited jointly by the Hochschule der Kunste and the Technische Universitat Berlin 1978 Composer in residence at the University of Maryland Baltimore May 1982 Composer in Residence at the University of Missouri Kansas City 1983 and Guest Composer at the annual convention of the Percussive Arts Society St Louis 1987 2 Brun s students at the University of Illinois were referred to often pejoratively as Brunettes 5 His notable students include Stuart Saunders Smith and Sarah Hennies Life editHerbert Brun was born to a German Jewish family in Berlin Many of his relatives died in the Holocaust during World War II 6 7 8 9 He was married to Marianne Brun an intellectual writer and teacher of social theory she was the daughter of the famous German actors Fritz Kortner and Johanna Hofer 10 Selected works editFive Pieces for piano Op 1 1940 45 Sonatina for viola alone Op 12 1950 String Quartet No 2 1957 Anepigraphe 1958 tape alone Klange unterwegs Wayfaring Sounds 1962 tape alone Trio for flute double bass and percussion 1964 Futility 1964 tape alone Sonoriferous Loops 1964 chamber ensemble and tape Infraudibles 1968 1984 optional chamber ensemble and tape Piece of Prose 1972 tape alone Dust 1976 SAWDUST No 1 tape alone More Dust 1977 SAWDUST No 2 optional percussion and tape Dustiny 1978 SAWDUST No 3 tape alone A Mere Ripple 1979 SAWDUST No 4 tape alone U TURN TO 1980 SAWDUST No 5 tape alone I toLD YOU so 1981 SAWDUST No 6 tape alone Sentences Now Open Wide SNOW 1984 on stilts among ducks 1996 viola and tape Publications editBrun Herbert Uber Musik und zum Computer Karlsruhe G Braun 1971 Accompanied by a 10 inch LP recording Computer generated graphics Computer Music Journal Vol 5 No 2 summer 1981 Brun Herbert My Words and Where I Want Them Champaign IL London Princelet Editions 1990 ISBN 0 86298 028 3 Brun Herbert Irresistible Observations edited by Mark Enslin Susan Parenti Andrew Trull Champaign IL Non Sequitur Press ISBN 0 9662448 6 9 Brun Herbert Sighs in Disguise edited by Mark Enslin Susan Parenti Andrew Trull Champaign IL Non Sequitur Press ISBN 0 9662448 5 0 Brun Herbert When Music Resists Meaning The Major Writings of Herbert Brun edited by Arun Chandra Middletown CT Wesleyan University Press 2004 ISBN 0 8195 6669 1 cloth ISBN 0 8195 6670 5 pbk Citations editNotes edit Gluck 2006 a b c d e f Chandra 2004 a b Enslin 2001 History of EMS Kowalkowski Summer 2008 p 239 A Heartbreaking Letter from a Muslim American to Non Muslim Allies 10 December 2015 To Herbert Brun Donnacha Dennehy S R 20 An Appeal from American Jews to the Green Party of Germany to Stop the Bombing of Yugoslavia Twenty Israeli Composers Voices of a Culture 081432648X 9780814326480 The News Gazette 2014 References edit Chandra Arun ed 2004 When Music Resists Meaning The Major Writings of Herbert Brun Wesleyan University Press ISBN 9780819566690 OCLC 474495643 Retrieved 2021 03 31 ISBN 0 8195 6669 1 cloth ISBN 0 8195 6670 5 paperback LCCN 2003 66582 Enslin Mark 2001 Brun Herbert In Sadie Stanley Tyrrell John eds The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians Vol 4 2 ed Macmillan Publishers Limited pp 499 500 doi 10 1093 gmo 9781561592630 article 48268 LCCN 2012002055 OCLC 5713602733 Retrieved 2021 03 31 ISBN 0 3336 0800 3 1 5615 9239 0 Gluck Robert J 2006 Electronic Music in Israel Electronic Music Foundation Archived from the original on 2009 07 26 Retrieved 2013 12 16 History of EMS School of Music University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Retrieved 2022 09 01 Kowalkowski Jeffrey Summer 2008 Techniques for Thwarting Hegemony Anticommunication and Gesture Inhibiting Musical Material as Compositional Resource in the Music of Herbert Brun Perspectives of New Music 46 2 237 243 doi 10 1353 pnm 2008 0005 ISSN 0031 6016 JSTOR 25652394 OCLC 6733252229 S2CID 258132700 Retrieved 2021 03 31 Marianne Brun obituary The News Gazette Retrieved 2021 07 09 External links editHerbert Brun website ICMA obit at the Wayback Machine archived February 24 2005 Brun article Technology and the Composer Brun article Teaching the Function of Time in Art Articles and associated works Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Herbert Brun amp oldid 1186592908, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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