Boyish good looks, aw-shucks charm, laid-back good-naturedness, serious composition chops. Ben Broening sure has it all goin’ on – but, hmmm, haven’t you always wanted to know about the history of his renowned 3P electroacoustic fest at University of Richmond VA, where he (and 8bb) teach? Haven’t you been burning to find out why he was in Estonia for 6 months in the spring? Don’t you feel dirty for not being made aware of a possible new direction in his compositional style? Aren’t you just palpitating at the thought of a new flute/electronics piece to be premiered by 8bb’s illustrious “T-Money” next year?
Welcome to the first in what will hopefully, according to my introduction to Ben’s interview, “be a long and illustrious series” of amusing, insightful, gripping composer chats. If Ben sounds slightly distracted, it is because the interview took place during last-minute preparations for the 3P festival a couple of weeks ago.
Music extracts come from Ben’s work for clarinet and electronics, Arioso/Doubles, performed by Arthur Campbell, clarinet.
Next week, Frances White on how the shakuhachi changed her compositional life! Then, in episode 3, Stephen Hartke and the pain of working with a completely invented instrument – the “flexatone gamelan”!
Enjoy. Your comments and suggestions would be most welcome.
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