Schubel, Max

Schubel, Max, American composer; b. N.Y., April 11, 1932. He was educated at N.Y.U. (graduated, 1953), his composition teachers being Charles Haubiel in N.Y. and Frank Martin. In 1960 he formed OPUS ONE, an independent recording company dedicated to producing non-commercial concert and electronic music; in 1982 its headquarters was moved to a small cabin he built on a remote mountain in the Catskills. From 1954 Schubel spent much of his time on his small island in Moosehead Lake, Maine, where he became interested in environmental protection and self-sufficient living; developed skills in recycling, composting, raising chickens, and developing non-electrical sources of power and water. As a composer, he received 2 NEA awards (1974, 1982) and a Ford Foundation Recording Grant (1971); also was in residence at the MacDowell Colony, the Wurlitzer Foundation, Ossabaw Island, and Wolf Trap.

Works

ORCH .: Fracture (1969); Divertimento for Piano, Trumpet, and Chamber Orch. (1980; rev. 1987); Guale (1984); Punch and Judie for Chamber Orch. (1980); Scherzo (1987); SuperScherzo for Chamber Orch. (1988–89). CHAMBER : Insected Surfaces, concerto for Clarinet, Cello, Bass, Harpsichord, and Piano (1965); Exotica for Cello and Harpsichord (1967); 2 string quartets (1968, 1980); Zing and ZipZap for Chamber Ensemble (1986); The Spoors of Time for Viola and Piano (1986); Septet (1988); Dragondust for Clarinet and Piano (1988); String Quintet (1989); Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1989). Piano : Everybody’s Favourite Rag (1979); Miraplex (1979); B Natural for Prepared Piano (1980); Stable Turner (1981); Klish Klash for Prepared Piano (1982); Dragonseed (1986).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire