Music of James Tenney

James Tenney was a pioneer in multiple areas of
music, all of which remain domains of vigorous
creative activity to the present day. These
include plunderphonia, computer music, process
form, spectral music and extended
just-intonation. His theoretical writings
addressing the perception of form, timbre and
harmony have been similarly influential.
Moreover, a remarkable cross-section of American
experimental art in the 20th Century is provided
by the ensemble of Tenney's teachers (Edgard
Varese, Carl Ruggles, John Cage, LeJaren Hiller),
associates (Stan Brakhage, Carolee Schneemann,
Harry Partch, Max Mathews, the Judson Group,
Fluxus, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Harold Budd,
Conlon Nancarrow, Lou Harrison) and students
(John Luther Adams, Michael Byron, Peter Garland,
Charlemagne Palestine, Larry Polansky, Marc
Sabat, Chiyoko Slavnics, Catherine Lamb, Daniel
Corral). This course provides a detailed
analytical survey of Tenney's music and thought,
with periodic excursions exploring the work in
diverse media of his associates.