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Robert AshleyAmerican composer
Date of Birth: 28.03.1930
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Robert Ashley
Robert Ashley was a contemporary American composer known for his operas, theatrical works, and interdisciplinary projects. Many of his works incorporated electronic music and advanced techniques for creating special effects. Alongside Gordon Mumma, Ashley is considered one of the pioneers in the use of synthesizers in contemporary classical music and television operas.
Early Life and Education
Robert Ashley was born on March 28, 1930, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He studied at the University of Michigan under composer and renowned music educator Ross Lee Finney. He then transferred to the Manhattan School of Music and later served as a musician in the army. After returning to Michigan, Ashley worked at the speech research laboratory of the University of Michigan. Although he was not officially enrolled as a student in the acoustic research program, Ashley had the opportunity to defend a doctoral degree but declined and continued his musical pursuits.
Career and Contributions
From 1961 to 1969, Ashley organized the 'ONCE Festival' in Ann Arbor together with Roger Reynolds, Gordon Mumma, and other local composers and artists. He was one of the founders and leaders of the 'ONCE Group,' a theatrical musical ensemble that had a significant influence on the development of contemporary classical music and new opera and actively toured the United States from 1964 to 1969. During these years, Ashley created his experimental operas, 'That Morning Thing' and 'In Memoriam...Kit Carson,' and also worked on soundtracks for George Manupelli's films.
Ashley was also a member of the 'Sonic Arts Union,' an association of experimental musicians that included David Behrman, Alvin Lucier, and Gordon Mumma. In 1969, he became the director of the 'San Francisco Tape Music Center.' In the 1970s, Ashley led the Mills College Center for Contemporary Music in Oakland, California, where he established the first public access to a music and media center. Notable flutist and composer Maggi Payne was one of his students.
From 1966 to 1976, he toured the United States and Europe with the 'Sonic Arts Union.' With support from the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations, Ashley became the producer and director of 'Music with Roots in the Aether: video portraits of composers and their music,' a 14-hour documentary film combined with the genre of television opera that explored the work and ideas of seven American composers. The film premiered at the Festival d'Automne à Paris in 1976 and has since been shown worldwide in over 100 television broadcasts and transmissions.
Ashley also composed music for dance companies, including Trisha Brown's 'Son of Gone Fishin'' (1983), Merce Cunningham's 'Problems in the Flying Saucer' (1988), Douglas Dunn's 'Ideas from The Church' (1978), and Steve Paxton's 'The Park and The Backyard' (1978). A significant portion of Robert Ashley's recordings was released by the 'Lovely Music' label, which was founded by 'Performing Artservices,' a non-profit management organization representing Ashley and other artists. Ashley's opera 'Perfect Lives' was featured in Peter Greenaway's documentary film '4 American Composers.'
Later Years and Legacy
In November 2011, the publishing house 'Burning Books' released two of Ashley's final books, 'Quicksand' and 'Atalanta (Acts of God).' Robert Ashley's innovative approach to music and his contributions to the field of contemporary classical music continue to inspire and influence composers and performers around the world.
