Atchley, Kenneth

Atchley, Kenneth, American composer; b. Lebanon, Term., Oct. 7, 1954. He studied composition with Robert Ashley and David Behrman and performance practice with Gordon Mumma at Mills Coll. in Oakland, Calif. (M.F.A., 1982). Atchley’s works, built on forms derived from classical music and visual art, are characterized by abstract, electronic sounds and their use of musique concrète; from 1997 he began working with “array fountains,” two or more smaller fountains that together form a single, logical fountain to which microphones are attached and the audio signal processed and amplified.

Works

Lolly, opera for Spoken Word and Inflected Speech, Analog Electronics, and Tape (1978); Light of Hand (Lumière de Main) for Women’s Chorus, Video, Hanging Chair Sculpture, and Electronics (1982); American Percussion Music for Arms Fire and Ensemble Electronics (1983); Wasserglocken for Electronics and Bell Sculpture (1984); Edison’s Last Project(ION), opera for Spoken Word, Digital Electronics, and Chamber Ensemble (1985); The Last Seven Words for Soloist or Ensemble performing Spoken Word, Inflected Speech, and Digital Electronics (1986); Long Hunter for Electronics and Water Bells (1987); Aesclepius for Electronics, Chamber Ensemble, Percussion, and Dance (1988); The Rabbit’s Song for Vocals and Digital Electronics (1989); Swan Lake, opera for Solo or Ensemble Electronics and Spoken Word (1990); Don Giovanni, opera for Solo or Ensemble Electronics and Spoken Word (1990); Smoke, opera with Ballet for Ensemble Electronics and Spoken Word (1992); flowers & ghosts, solo works for Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Digital Electronics, and Recorded Media (1993–97); fountain_1998.11 for Digital Electronics and Recorded Media (1998); fountain_1999.3 for Digital Electronics and Recorded Media (1999); fountain_1999.20 for Array Fountain, Digital Electronics, and Recorded Media (1999–2000); icepond for Array Fountain and Digital Electronics (2000); recast for Array Fountain, Digital Electronics, and Recorded Media (2000).

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire