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== Education and Early Works ==
== Education and Early Works ==
Kline was born in [[Akron, Ohio]] in 1953. After moving to [[New York City]] to pursue a degree in English literature from [[Columbia University]], he enrolled in [[Mannes College of Music]] for a master’s program in composition. In the late 1970s, Kline began his career as a full-time musician, touring internationally with the [[Glenn Branca|Glenn Branca Ensemble]] and later co-founding the [[No wave|no-wave]], [[art-punk]] band [[The Del-Byzanteens]] alongside filmmaker [[Jim Jarmusch]], author [[Luc Sante]], and painter [[James Nares]]. Around this same time, he began scoring video projects by [[Nan Goldin]] and [[Wim Wenders]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/826856037|title=Virtual Music : How the Web Got Wired for Sound.|last=William.|first=Duckworth,|date=2013|publisher=Taylor and Francis|isbn=9781136087301|oclc=826856037}}</ref><br />
Kline was born in [[Akron, Ohio]] in 1953. After moving to [[New York City]] to pursue a degree in English literature from [[Columbia University]], he enrolled in [[Mannes College of Music]] for a master’s program in composition. In the late 1970s, Kline began his career as a full-time musician, touring internationally with the [[Glenn Branca|Glenn Branca Ensemble]] and later co-founding the [[No wave|no-wave]], [[art-punk]] band [[The Del-Byzanteens]] alongside filmmaker [[Jim Jarmusch]], author [[Luc Sante]], and painter [[James Nares]]. Around this same time, he began scoring video projects by [[Nan Goldin]] and [[Wim Wenders]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/826856037|title=Virtual Music : How the Web Got Wired for Sound.|last=William.|first=Duckworth,|date=2013|publisher=Taylor and Francis|isbn=9781136087301|oclc=826856037}}</ref>
<br />
==Career==
As a continuation of his experimental work, Kline began creating tape-based sound installations for collections of boomboxes inspired by the work of [[Brian Eno]], [[Steve Reich]], and [[Glenn Branca]]. The first of these was called ''Bachman’s Warbler'' (1990), which was written for harmonicas and twelve boomboxes and premiered at Bang on a Can Marathon in New York City in 1992. These installations later culminated in his [[Unsilent Night]] (1992), which has since brought Kline worldwide recognition. Virtual Music: How the Web Got Wired for Sound

Beginning in New York City, [[Unsilent Night]] is an annual Christmas-themed performance piece in which anyone may participate. Every December, as part of this performance, a volunteer parade carrying boomboxes and other music players passes through Greenwich Village, presenting an ambient cacophony made of recorded bells, harps, and other instruments blended with moments of historic Christmas hymns, chants, and carols. Since its premiere in 1992, this tradition has since spread to over 37 cities across the United States and Canada, as well as to some cities in Europe.
Virtual Music: How the Web Got Wired for Sound

Kline’s other notable work primarily includes song cycles and opera. Kline’s song cycles have historically had political themes, such as his ''Three Rumsfeld Songs'', which borrow text from the Pentagon briefings of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld following the [[September 11 terrorist attacks]] and during the [[War in Iraq]]. The source for Kline’s ''Zippo Songs'' (2004), the song cycle for which he is best known, comes from U.S. government-issued Zippo lighters from the Vietnam War, on which some soldiers etched short sayings or poems. These sayings and poems, compiled into ''Zippo Songs'', therefore offers a lens into the social, spiritual, sexual, and emotional lives of these American Vietnam War soldiers.


<br />
==Discography==
==Discography==
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Revision as of 13:28, 26 February 2019

For the Kansas politician, see Phill Kline.
Phil Kline
Kline after a performance of his Unsilent Night in New York City, December 2018.
Kline after a performance of his Unsilent Night in New York City, December 2018.
Background information
BornAkron, Ohio
Genrescontemporary classical, performance art, experimental, art punk,
Occupation(s)Composer, sound artist, performer
Years active1982-present
LabelsCantaloupe Music
Websitephilkline.com

Phil Kline (born 1953) is an American composer, sound artist, and performer most recognized for his Unsilent Night (1992) and Zippo Songs (2004). Beginning as a guitarist and singer in the New York City art punk scene, Kline has since gained notability through his song cycles and theatrical works, musical performance art pieces, work with Bang on a Can, and WQXR new-music radio show New Sounds.[1][2][3] With five studio albums to date, a majority of his compositional work can be found on Cantaloupe Music.[4]

Education and Early Works

Kline was born in Akron, Ohio in 1953. After moving to New York City to pursue a degree in English literature from Columbia University, he enrolled in Mannes College of Music for a master’s program in composition. In the late 1970s, Kline began his career as a full-time musician, touring internationally with the Glenn Branca Ensemble and later co-founding the no-wave, art-punk band The Del-Byzanteens alongside filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, author Luc Sante, and painter James Nares. Around this same time, he began scoring video projects by Nan Goldin and Wim Wenders.[5]

Career

As a continuation of his experimental work, Kline began creating tape-based sound installations for collections of boomboxes inspired by the work of Brian Eno, Steve Reich, and Glenn Branca. The first of these was called Bachman’s Warbler (1990), which was written for harmonicas and twelve boomboxes and premiered at Bang on a Can Marathon in New York City in 1992. These installations later culminated in his Unsilent Night (1992), which has since brought Kline worldwide recognition. Virtual Music: How the Web Got Wired for Sound

Beginning in New York City, Unsilent Night is an annual Christmas-themed performance piece in which anyone may participate. Every December, as part of this performance, a volunteer parade carrying boomboxes and other music players passes through Greenwich Village, presenting an ambient cacophony made of recorded bells, harps, and other instruments blended with moments of historic Christmas hymns, chants, and carols. Since its premiere in 1992, this tradition has since spread to over 37 cities across the United States and Canada, as well as to some cities in Europe. Virtual Music: How the Web Got Wired for Sound

Kline’s other notable work primarily includes song cycles and opera. Kline’s song cycles have historically had political themes, such as his Three Rumsfeld Songs, which borrow text from the Pentagon briefings of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld following the September 11 terrorist attacks and during the War in Iraq. The source for Kline’s Zippo Songs (2004), the song cycle for which he is best known, comes from U.S. government-issued Zippo lighters from the Vietnam War, on which some soldiers etched short sayings or poems. These sayings and poems, compiled into Zippo Songs, therefore offers a lens into the social, spiritual, sexual, and emotional lives of these American Vietnam War soldiers.



Discography

Studio Albums
Title Label Year
John the Revelator Cantaloupe Music 2009
Around the World in a Daze Starkland 2009
Zippo Songs Cantaloupe Music 2004
Unsilent Night Cantaloupe Music 2001
Glow in the Dark Composers Recordings, Inc. 1998[6]
Emergency Music Composers Recordings, Inc. 1997[7]


Compilation Albums
Title Track Label Year
Messiah Remix “Hallelujah!” Cantaloupe Music 2004[8]
Ethel "Blue Room and Other Stories" Cantaloupe Music 2003
Renegade Heaven "Exquisite Corpses" Cantaloupe Music 2001[9]
Immersion "The Housatonic at Henry Street" Starkland 2000[10]
The Alternative Schubertiade “Franz in the Underworld” Composers Recordings, Inc. 1999[11]
New York Guitars “Fantasy on One Note” Composers Recordings, Inc. 1996[12]
Bang on a Can Vol. 2 “Bachman’s Warbler” Composers Recordings, Inc. 1993[13]


Sources

  1. ^ Sisario, Ben (2000-12-03). "MUSIC; A Provocateur Takes On a New Challenge". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  2. ^ William., Duckworth, (2013). Virtual Music : How the Web Got Wired for Sound. Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781136087301. OCLC 826856037.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Phil Kline: Cascades of Vigorous, Multi-Dimensional Sound | New Sounds | Hand-picked music, genre free". newsounds. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  4. ^ "Phil Kline". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  5. ^ William., Duckworth, (2013). Virtual Music : How the Web Got Wired for Sound. Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9781136087301. OCLC 826856037.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Smith, Steve (2009-12-20). "Kindred Spirits in John Cage and Phil Kline, at Tank". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  7. ^ "Emergency Music - Kline: Glow In The Dark - Composers Recordings, Inc. (Cri): NWCR801". www.arkivmusic.com. Retrieved 2019-02-20. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  8. ^ "Various - Messiah Remix". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  9. ^ "Bang On A Can - Renegade Heaven". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  10. ^ "Various - Immersion". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  11. ^ "Various - The Alternative Schubertiade". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  12. ^ "Various - New York Guitars". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  13. ^ "Bang On A Can - Live Vol. 2". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-02-20.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phil_Kline&oldid=885180309"