Background
Johnson, Tom was born on November 18, 1939 in Greeley, Colorado, United States.
(In his theoretical book, Self-Similar Melodies, Tom Johns...)
In his theoretical book, Self-Similar Melodies, Tom Johnson explains the logical and mathematical techniques he uses in his composition. These include finite and infinite automata, the paper folding formula, and sequences taken from Pascal's triangle. This book is rather detailed treatment, 291 pages long, with many short melodies written to demonstrate the techniques employed.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2907200011/?tag=2022091-20
Johnson, Tom was born on November 18, 1939 in Greeley, Colorado, United States.
Bachelor, Yale University, 1961; Master of Music, Yale University, 1967; studies with, Morton Feldman.
He earned his Bachelors and Masters degree from Yale University. His pieces are most often based simply on mathematical and logical processes, such as tiling, which he attempts to make as clear as possible. He has also composed a considerable amount of music for the guitar including Alexandrins pour guitare (1989), Canon for Six Guitars (1998), Arpeggios for Guitar (2002), and Tinkelenberg Rhythms (2014).
(1973), (1983, India Navigation) is a conceptual album in which Johnson performs on 9 bells, evenly spaced and hanging from the ceiling.
Greg Sandow (2003) describes, "in which he walked, at a steady rhythmic pace (and, if I remember correctly, for more than an hour), among nine suspended burglar alarm bells, systematically exploring all the possible paths among them. Which, since he strikes each bell as he passes it, are also all the possible melodies their pitches might make.
As in many of Tom"s works, theory and practice are identical here. You see and hear the structure of the piece.
That"s not even remotely abstract.
Instead, it"s pure happiness, as the pealing bells seem to ring with Tom"s concentration (visible in his face and body, audible in his steady steps), and his joie de vivre." At the age of 55, Johnson had to stop performing this athletic piece, but Matthias Kaul, Adam Weisman, Olaf Pyras and others have developed their own interpretations of the score, using their own sets of bells. Similarly, Galileo, another invented instrument consisting of five swinging pendulums, which the composer performed often from 2001 to 2009, is now interpreted by Pierre Berthet. Conversations avec Tom Johnson, book of interviews by Bernard Girard
Johnson, Tom (1989).
The Voice of New Music: New York City 1972-1982 -- A Collection of Articles Originally Published by the Village Voice.
Eindhoven, Netherlands: Het Apollohuis. X
Tom Johnson biography
Tom Johnson Editions 75
Some Observations on Tiling Problems by Tom Johnson
An Hour for Piano streamed online produced by Irritable Hedgehog Music
Lovely Music Artist: Tom Johnson
NewMusicBox.org: Tom Johnson answers: "What role has theory played in your compositions and how important is it for people to know the theory behind the music in order to appreciate it?"
THE VOICE OF NEW MUSIC (1991) "An anthology of articles on the evolution of minimal music in New York in 1972-1982, which originally appeared in the Village Voice.
Published originally by Apollohuis, in Eindhoven, Holland, and now available as a free download."
NewMusicBox.org: View From The East: An Old Friend By Greg Sandow © 2003 NewMusicBox
Bonhoeffer Oratorium Program Notes
"Tiling In My Music"
Podcast in which Tom Johnson talks about his compositional methods, and the influence that John Cage and Morton Feldman had upon lieutenant
(In his theoretical book, Self-Similar Melodies, Tom Johns...)
(Tom Johnson VERSES FOR PERCUSSION Two Xylophones, Glocken...)