James Harley (born 1959) is a Canadian composer, author, and professor of music born in Vernon, British Columbia. His creative output consists of orchestral, chamber, solo, electroacoustic, and vocal music.
Studies Harley studied at Western Washington University (B.Mus., magna cum laude, 1977–1982), Royal Academy of Music (1983–1985), Université de Paris (1986–1987), Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music, Warsaw (1987–1988), and McGill University (D.Mus., 1988–1994).
Teaching He has taught at the Faculty of Music at McGill University (1989–1995), Wilfrid Laurier University (1995–1996), California Institute of the Arts (1997), University of Southern California (1997), and Minnesota State University Moorhead (1999–2004). In 2004, he took up a tenure-track position in music at University of Guelph, where he is associate professor.
Harley is also the author of the book Xenakis: His Life in Music. His areas of expertise and specialization include digital music, composition, contemporary music analysis, and history of electronic/computer music. Music and research by James Harley is represented by Art Music Promotion.Art Music Promotion, James Harley
List of works Orchestra Along the Riverrun (1983) 10 min. Version I: 1111/1100/timp/66643 Version II: strings (20220 concertante/66644 orchestra) Overture Divertimento (1984) 8 min. 2222/2220/timp/strings Windprints (1989) 15 min. 2222/4221/3 perc/pf/strings Kekula (Memories of a Landscape – III) (1992) 15 min. 2222/4221/strings N(ouvelle)aissance (1994) 16 min. 1202/2000/1 perc/44321 Old Rock (1996) 10 min. 2222/4221/timp/strings
Ensemble Sabbath (1981) 20 min. jazz ensemble (5 saxophones, 5 trumpets, 4 trombones, electric guitar, electric bass, piano, drums) The Tail of Pinky Oozgreen and the Mossbrains (1983) 20 min. jazz ensemble (5 saxophones, 5 trumpets, 4 trombones, electric guitar, electric bass, piano, drums) Stillness Dancing (1983, revised 1984) 10 min. 11 players (1111/1000/1 perc/pf/10111) Mobile (1984) 18 min. 10 trombones (8 tenors, 2 bass), 2 percussion Prelude (Under the Thin Rainfall) (1985) 7 min. flute, clarinet, horn, harp, violin, cello Tapisse(reve)rie (1986) 13 min. 11 players (1111/1110/10111) Memories of a Landscape – II (1988) 15 min. 13 strings (44221) Daring the Wilderness (1991) 12 min. percussion ensemble (5 players) Etude pour une Fete (Jazz II) (1991) 6 min. alto saxophone (or clarinet), trumpet, trombone, cello, double bass, piano Neue Bilder (Der Holle Rache) (1991) 10 min. piccolo, oboe, E♭ clarinet, trumpet, percussion, viola, cello, double bass Wine of Dragons (1993) 7 min. Version I: Taiko ensemble – 9 performers Version II (1997): percussion ensemble (9 players) Kaleidarray (Jazz III) (1994) 15 min. violin/bass violin, clarinet/bass clarinet, trumpet, Thai gongs, vibraphone, marimba, piano Cuimhneachan Urramach (1995) 15 min. solo cello and 14 players (1111/1110/1 perc/pf/11111) Octane-VX (1996) 8 min. flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, double bass Can(y)on (1997) 3 min. clarinet, trumpet, vibraphone, marimba, piano, violin, double bass bien serré (1999) 20 min. jazz ensemble (4 saxophones, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, electric guitar, electric bass, keyboard, drums) KappaMusik (2002) 13 min. jazz ensemble (4 saxophones, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 electric guitars, drums) aXis (2006) 12 min. 13 players (1111/1111/11111) soundskein (2006) 15 min. two string quartets
Chamber music Images (1983) 17 min. flute, vibraphone, violin, viola, cello Encounters – II (1984) 10 min. percussion duo String Quartet (1984) 10 min. 2 violins, viola, cello Jazz (1985) 7 min. saxophone quartet (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone) Here the Bird (1993) 13 min. viola, piano Épanoui (1995) 12 min. flute, cello, piano Tyee (1995) 13 min. bass flute and percussion Consort: Dances of the Borealis (1998) 15 min. two pianos, two percussion Cachées (2000) 11 min. guitar and cello nmaya (Kokopeli II) (2002) 12 min. percussion and piano TreDue Sextet (2010) 10 min. flute, clarinet, marimba/vibraphone, piano, violin, violoncello.
Instrumental Exposures (1984) 7 min. horn Portrait (1984) 8 min. flute Piano (1989) 14 min. piano Variations (1989) 21 min. piano Song for Nobody (1990) 8 min. B♭ clarinet (alternative version for B♭ bass clarinet with extended low register) Ma'dhanah (1990) 12 min. Accordion flung loose into the stars (1995) 10 min. piano Exh... (1999) 5 min. piccolo Édifices (naturels) (2001) 10 min. piano pLayer8aVeronika Krausas | The Player Piano Project . CD Baby (1 March 1971). Retrieved on 2010-12-01. (2007) 5 min. player piano
Vocal and choral Five Poems by Richard Brautigan (1981) 8 min. mezzo-soprano, flute, cello, percussion, piano Soft Morning (1983) 7 min. (text by James Joyce) soprano solo (alternative version for mezzo-soprano) Singing a silence of stone (1983) 6 min. (text by e.e. cummings) soprano, harp, 2 percussion Two Psalms (1986) 14 min. Lullaby (Psalm 23), Jubilate Domino (Psalm 100) SATB chorus, harp Jubilate Domino (Psalm 100) SATB chorus, harp Reflections on a Prayer of Saint Augustine (1987) 13 min. (text in Latin from St. Augustine's Confessions, and The Song of Songs) SATB chorus (36 parts, 9 groups) one winter after(a flower)noon (1987) 8 min. (text by e.e. cummings). soprano, bass clarinet, cello, piano Cantico delle Creature (1993) 23 min. (text by St. Francis of Assisi) mezzo-soprano, choir (SSAATTBB), chamber orchestra (2222/2220/3 perc/piano, celeste/22222), soundfiles re: Hallelujah (2005) 5.5 min. (text by Leonard Cohen) soprano and chamber orchestra (1111/1111/perc/piano/11111)
Electroacoustic Sonnet Sonore (1985) 14 min. oboe and stereo electroacoustic Voyage (1986) 15 min. 4-channel electroacoustic Per Foramen Acus Transire (1987) 15 min. flute/bass flute and stereo electroacoustic Night-flowering ... not even sand – I (1989) 12 min. bassoon and electroacoustic Night-flowering ... not even sand – II (1990) 9 min. stereo electroacoustic Spangled (1996) 5 min. stereo electroacoustic Jardinages – I (2000) 6 min. electric guitar and tape Jardinages – II (2000) 6 min. stereo electroacoustic On Frogs (2000) 13 min. reciter, interactive electronics (3 players) Anasazi: Kokopeli I (2001) 11 min. amplified piccolo and electronics Xmix (2001) 12 min. stereo electroacoustic Chaotika (2001) 12 min. percussion and interactive electronics jem (2003) 3 min. 4-channel electroacoustic Wild Fruits: Prologue (2004) 16 min. 8-channel electroacoustic (alternate version with slides) Wild Fruits: Installation (2004) open duration keyboard controller, sampler, stereo electroacoustic Mashup: Derome vs Oliveros (2005) 7 min. stereo electroacoustic Wild Fruits 2: like a ragged flock, like pulverized jade (2006) 11 min. amplified alto flute, live electronics, 8-channel electracoustic blueBob (Dylan Remix) (2006) 5 min. stereo electroacoustic Ariel Fragments (2007) 17 min. SSSAAA choir, 8-channel electroacoustic pLayer8b (2008) 5 min. 8-channel electroacoustic re:Nude (2008) 4.5 min. stereo electroacoustic re:Nude:ty (2008) 1 min. stereo electroacoustic Wild Fruits 3: Chestnuts (2008) 13 min. 8-channel electroacoustic re:Reckoner (2009) 4.5 min. stereo electroacoustic Duol (2009) 7 min. violin, guitar, soundfiles Raindown (MegMix) (2009) 4.5 min. stereo electroacoustic
Educational music Dance Set (2009) 8 min. two cellos, Grade 4 level
Music theatre Scenes From a Theatre on Mars (1984) 15 min. (Text: James Harley, adapted from The Last Days of Mankind by Karl Kraus) 2 speaking/acting roles (1 male, 1 female), 2 cl (2nd doubles sax), tp/flugel, vn/vl, vc.
Affiliations James Harley is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre, and a board member of the Canadian League of Composers. He is also a member of the American Composers Forum, the Canadian Electroacoustic Community, and the International Computer Music Association.
Selected performers Arraymusic, Codes d'Accès, Composers' Orchestra,CCMW . Ccmw.ca. Retrieved on 2010-12-01. Continuum, Corey Hamm Dr. Corey Hamm . Music.ubc.ca. Retrieved on 2010-12-01. Marc Couroux, ECM, Hammerhead Consort, Kappa, Kore,Ensemble Kore . Ensemblekore.ca. Retrieved on 2010-12-01. Kovalis Duo, Duo Vira, Groundswell, Hammerhead Consort, Lafayette String Quartet, McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble,McGill Music Composition Area . Music.mcgill.ca. Retrieved on 2010-12-01. McGill Symphony Orchestra, Elizabeth McNutt, New Music Concerts, Patricia O'Callahan, Oshawa-Durham Symphony, Open Ears Festival, Penderecki String Quartet, Polish Society for New Music, Brigitte Poulin, Prince George Symphony, Ben Reimer, SMCQ,About the partners — Montreal/New Music — SMCQ . Festivalmnm.ca. Retrieved on 2010-12-01. Transmission,. Trio Phoenix, Trio Fibonacci, Alain Trudel, University of Guelph Women's Chamber Choir, Vancouver Bach Choir, Ellen Waterman.Toronto Electroacoustic Symposium 2008 – Paper and Concert Schedule. Cec.sonus.ca. Retrieved on 2010-12-01.
Further reading Steenhuisen, Paul. 2009. "Interview with James Harley." In Sonic Mosaics: Conversations with Composers. Edmonton: University of Alberta Press. Couroux, Marc. Daring the Wilderness. The Music of James Harley. Couroux, Marc. Daring the Wilderness: The Music of James Harley. Musicworks 69 (1997), 42–50. Couroux, Marc: James Harley. Circuit, Vol. 8/1 (Spring 1999). Homma, Martina: James Harley. In Komponisten der Gegenwart, Gesamtverzeichnis. Munich: Edition text-kritik. Various writings on Xenakis by James Harley. Harley, James. "The Hills Are Alive…: Wild Fruits Creative Soundscapes Project." eContact! 10.3 – Symposium Électroacoustique de Toronto 2007 Toronto Electroacoustic Symposium (May 2008). Montréal: CEC. Harley, James. Does the Music Make the Technology Better: The Case of The Residents. In Music, Arts and Technologies: Toward a Critical Approach. Paris: l'Harmattan, 2004. Harley, James. The Continuous Now: Peter Hatch's Musical Vision and Community Presence. MusicworksMusicworks – Postcard Collection. Musicworks.ca. Retrieved on 2010-12-01. 86, 2003. Harley, James. Considerations of Lutoslawski's Conception of Symphonic Form. Lutoslawski Studies, ed. Z. Skowron, Oxford University Press, 2001. Harley, James. The New Nihilism: L'objet sonore and the music of Richard Barrett. Musicworks 72, 1998. Harley, James. Generative Processes in Algorithmic Composition: Music and Chaos. Leonardo 28/3, 1995.
References
External links Classical Composers Database entry. Chaotika performance.