Cameron Carpenter

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Cameron Carpenter

| image = Oliver Mark - Cameron Carpenter, Berlin 2012.jpg

| caption = Cameron Carpenter photographed by Oliver Mark, Berlin 2012

| image_size = 220

| birth_name = Taylor Cameron Carpenter

| alias =

| birth_place =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|04|18}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}

| origin =

| instrument = Organ

| genre =

| occupation = Organist

| years_active =

| label = {{hlist|Sony Classical|Telarc|SeeMusicDVD}}

| associated_acts =

| website = {{URL|cameroncarpenter.com}}

}}

Taylor Cameron Carpenter{{cite news| last=Schweitzer| first=Vivien| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/arts/music/15schw.html?pagewanted=all| title=In Concert: Talent, Style and Sequins| newspaper=The New York Times| date=November 11, 2009| access-date=February 21, 2017| archive-date=February 2, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202173535/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/arts/music/15schw.html?pagewanted=all| url-status=live}} (born April 18, 1981){{cite web| title='Grotesque' organist hits town| newspaper=Japan Times| first=Eriko| last=Arita| date=February 22, 2013| url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2013/02/22/events/events-tokyo/grotesque-organist-hits-town/| access-date=June 17, 2017| archive-date=December 30, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230172643/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2013/02/22/events/events-tokyo/grotesque-organist-hits-town/| url-status=live}} is an American organist and composer.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/12/arts/music/12carp.html| title=The Maverick Organist Cameron Carpenter Cuts Loose at the River to River Festival| last=Holland| first=Bernard| date=July 12, 2006| newspaper=The New York Times| access-date=February 21, 2017| archive-date=January 15, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115051820/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/12/arts/music/12carp.html| url-status=live}}{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122229484657472905| title=Not Your Grandma's Organist| newspaper=The Wall Street Journal| first=Barrymore Laurence| last=Scherer| date=September 25, 2008| url-access=subscription| access-date=August 3, 2017| archive-date=December 30, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230115435/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122229484657472905| url-status=live}} In 2009, he became the first organist ever to be nominated for a Grammy Award for his solo album, Revolutionary.{{cite journal| url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/5/22/5741570/cameron-carpenter-international-touring-organ| title=Tank tops, high heels, and a portable pipe organ| last=Anderson| first=Lessley| date=May 22, 2014| journal=The Verge| language=en-US| access-date=June 20, 2019| archive-date=June 20, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620075932/https://www.theverge.com/2014/5/22/5741570/cameron-carpenter-international-touring-organ| url-status=live}}

Biography

Taylor Cameron Carpenter was born in the state of Pennsylvania, United States.

He attended high school at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and has bachelor's and master's degrees from the Juilliard School in New York,{{cite web| url=http://www.juilliard.edu/alumni/news/news_decades/2008-2009/0902/index.php| title=Alumni News| date=February 2009| website=Juilliard| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111121909/http://juilliard.edu/alumni/news/news_decades/2008-2009/0902/index.php| archivedate=November 11, 2011| quote=Cameron Carpenter's (BM '04, MM '06, organ)}} having studied with Gerre Hancock, John Weaver, and Paul Jacobs. Though he is not religious, Carpenter was from 2008 to 2009 the artist-in-residence at Middle Collegiate Church{{cite news| first=Stewart| last=Alison| title=Cameron Carpenter's Organ Revolution| date=October 26, 2008| work=NPR| url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96085462| series=Weekend Edition Sunday| accessdate=November 20, 2008| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031043933/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96085462| archivedate=October 31, 2008| quote=Carpenter told us he is on a bit of a mission to transform the way people think about organists and their instruments.}} in New York's East Village, where he played a four-manual electronic organ that he designed for the broad-ranging music of that church. Carpenter ended his residency in July 2009.

Recordings

In early 2008, the Telarc record label signed Carpenter to an exclusive five-album recording contract. His Telarc debut album, Revolutionary, was recorded as a CD and DVD at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City and released September 23, 2008. The title comes from Carpenter's transcription of Chopin's "Revolutionary Etude". The album made Carpenter the first organist ever to receive a Grammy nomination in the category 'Best Solo Instrumental Performance' (without orchestra) for a solo album. His first commercial album was a 2006 CD/DVD, Pictures at an Exhibition, on SeeMusicDVD. It includes his arrangement of the programmatic piano work by Modest Mussorgsky, and his own improvisatory "New York City Sessions". Visuals for the Mussorgsky were created by Marshall Yaeger and his Kaleidoplex. The recording was made at Trinity Church, New York.{{citation needed|reason=Most of this paragraph is missing citations.|date=August 2014}}

An "early" recording, made in 2005 and financed by the Allen Organ Company, was titled notes from the underground. This recording was a highly unusual project for Allen, as Carpenter was given near-complete artistic control of the album, selection of the program, and even oversight of graphic design (featuring location shots of Carpenter at famous New York City graffiti sites). This album was not reissued by Allen and is now a rarity.{{cite web| url=http://www.allenorgan.com/store/aoc-031-00076.html | title=Cameron Carpenter: Notes from the Underground| website=Allen Organ| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061217135844/http://www.allenorgan.com/store/aoc-031-00076.html| archivedate=December 17, 2006}}

File:Cameron Carpenter.jpg in 2011]]

On June 1, 2010, Telarc issued in the U.S. a two-disc set with a CD carrying a J.S. Bach recital that had been recorded live at a recital he played in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in New York City.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/arts/music/23carpenter.html| newspaper=The New York Times| title=A Showman of the Organ Pulls Back the Curtain| first=Steve| last=Smith| date=November 23, 2009| accessdate=April 28, 2010| archive-date=August 19, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819162701/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/arts/music/23carpenter.html| url-status=live}}

On August 26, 2014, Sony issued the DVD If You Could Read My Mind, containing performances and commentary by Carpenter recorded on an electronic touring organ.{{cite news |last=Huizenga |first=Tom |url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2014/08/18/first-listen-cameron-carpenter-if-you-could-read-my-mind |title=First Listen: Cameron Carpenter, 'If You Could Read My Mind' |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=August 16, 2014 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830185353/http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2014/08/18/first-listen-cameron-carpenter-if-you-could-read-my-mind |archivedate=August 30, 2014 |accessdate=August 30, 2014}}{{cite news| url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-cameron-carpenter-if-you-could-read-my-mind-review-20140827-column.html| journal=Los Angeles Times| title=Review Joy, daring in Cameron Carpenter's 'If You Could Read My Mind'| first=Mark| last=Swed| date=August 26, 2014| accessdate=August 30, 2014| archive-date=August 29, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829203940/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-cameron-carpenter-if-you-could-read-my-mind-review-20140827-column.html| url-status=live}}

Work

Carpenter has been both criticized by some and praised by others for his unorthodox interpretations of the standard organ repertoire. Registrations rarely follow those suggested by the composer, and Carpenter often takes dramatic liberties in articulation. Carpenter is also noted for his advocacy of the digital organ, particularly development of a touring electronic organ, citing factors{{cite news| url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/anxiously-seeking-virtual-end-to-organ-grind-for-cameron-carpenter/story-0-1225784621530| first=Michaela| last=Boland| title=Anxiously seeking virtual end to organ grind for Cameron Carpenter| date=October 9, 2009| journal=The Australian}} such as the obstacles the pipe organ imposes on the ability of a traveling performer to enjoy an ongoing relationship with a single instrument in the same manner as many other instrumentalists. Despite this, he frequently performs on pipe organs, often garnering major exposure for the instrument.{{cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09270/1001103-388.stm| journal=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette| title=Is this young man the 'savior' of the organ?| first=Andrew| last=Druckenbrod| date=September 27, 2009| access-date=January 31, 2010| archive-date=December 17, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217141800/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09270/1001103-388.stm| url-status=live}}{{cite news |first=Steward |last=Noack |url=http://www.cleveland.com/musicdance/index.ssf/2010/03/post_37.html |title=Organ virtuoso as rock star: Keyboard wunderkind Cameron Carpenter descends on Fairview Park church |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland |date=March 10, 2010 |accessdate=March 22, 2014 |archive-date=March 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322213036/http://www.cleveland.com/musicdance/index.ssf/2010/03/post_37.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-apr-17-la-et-carpenter-organ-20100417-story.html| journal=Los Angeles Times| title=Cameron Carpenter brings his organist showmanship to L.A.'s First Congregational Church on Sunday| first=David| last=Mermelstein| date=April 17, 2010| access-date=April 22, 2010| archive-date=October 23, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023183140/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/17/entertainment/la-et-carpenter-organ-20100417| url-status=live}}{{cite news| url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/04/cameron-carpenter-flash-and-substance-on-an-organ-with-or-without-pipes.html| journal=Los Angeles Times| title=Culture Monster| date=April 17, 2010| access-date=April 22, 2010| archive-date=April 21, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421081442/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/04/cameron-carpenter-flash-and-substance-on-an-organ-with-or-without-pipes.html| url-status=live}}{{cite news| url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/04/cameron-carpenter-and-paul-jacobs-in-a-day-of-organs.html| journal=Los Angeles Times| title=Culture Monster| date=April 19, 2010| access-date=April 22, 2010| archive-date=April 23, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423145405/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/04/cameron-carpenter-and-paul-jacobs-in-a-day-of-organs.html| url-status=live}}{{cite news| url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Organist-Cameron-Carpenter-3190912.php| journal=San Francisco Chronicle| first=Joshua| last=Kosman| date=April 29, 2010| title=Coming Up/ What's New This Week| access-date=May 4, 2010| archive-date=July 1, 2012| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701160013/http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-04-29/entertainment/20877144_1_organ-cameron-carpenter-gidon-kremer| url-status=live}}{{cite news| url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/03/DDQ21D8ME0.DTL| journal=San Francisco Chronicle| title=Music review: Organist Cameron Carpenter| first=Allan| last=Ulrich| date=August 10, 2010}}

He designed and commissioned the International Touring Organ (ITO), Opus 8 of the Marshall and Ogletree company, a one-of-a-kind, customized, "full-scale portable organ sonically tailorable to any acoustic environment", which took ten years and cost $2 million to build.{{cite journal|last=Aceves|first=Rusty|date=December 28, 2015|title=Five Things You Should Know About The International Touring Organ|url=https://www.sfjazz.org/onthecorner/five-things-you-should-know-about-international-touring-organ/|journal=On the Corner|accessdate=September 29, 2019|archive-date=June 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620075934/https://www.sfjazz.org/onthecorner/five-things-you-should-know-about-international-touring-organ/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/this-musician-is-taking-the-sounds-of-the-pipe-organ-on-the-road|title=This musician is taking the sounds of the pipe organ on the road|last=Wise|first=Cat|date=June 19, 2019|work=PBS NewsHour|access-date=June 20, 2019|language=en|archive-date=June 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620075933/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/this-musician-is-taking-the-sounds-of-the-pipe-organ-on-the-road|url-status=live}} Since its premiere in March 2014,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/11/arts/music/cameron-carpenter-performs-on-his-touring-instrument.html|title=Organist Introduces New Partner in Concert|last=Tommasini|first=Anthony|date=March 10, 2014|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 20, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=June 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620075931/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/11/arts/music/cameron-carpenter-performs-on-his-touring-instrument.html|url-status=live}} he no longer has to learn a new instrument for every performance which he characterized as maddening,{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/04/07/visiting-virtuoso-gay-organist-cameron-carpenter/|title=Visiting Virtuoso|last=DiGuglielmo|first=Joey|date=April 7, 2013|newspaper=Washington Blade|access-date=September 29, 2019|archive-date=June 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620082906/https://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/04/07/visiting-virtuoso-gay-organist-cameron-carpenter/|url-status=live}} and he now tours worldwide to venues that have never had an organ.{{cite news|url=https://www.courant.com/entertainment/music/hc-organist-cameron-carpenter-performs-at-storrs-0212-20150210-story.html|title=Pop-Star Organist Cameron Carpenter Shifts The Focus From The Instrument To Musicianship|last=Hamad|first=Michael|newspaper=Hartford Courant|access-date=June 20, 2019|language=en-US|archive-date=May 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525065042/http://www.courant.com/entertainment/music/hc-organist-cameron-carpenter-performs-at-storrs-0212-20150210-story.html|url-status=dead}} The story of the ITO is the subject of the 2015 documentary "The Sound of My Life".{{cite web|url=https://www.marshallandogletree.com/opus-8---international-touring-organ|title=Opus 8 - International Touring Organ|website=Marshall & Ogletree|language=en|access-date=June 20, 2019|archive-date=June 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620075934/https://www.marshallandogletree.com/opus-8---international-touring-organ|url-status=live}}

On March 18, 2014, Carpenter, arriving at Birmingham Airport for a performance at Birmingham Symphony Hall the following day, was refused permission to enter the United Kingdom by the British Border Force which applied immigration rules for visiting foreign artists. He returned to Britain the following day, and after a short detention at the airport, performed a reduced version of his planned recital. The House of Lords initiated an inquiry with the Home Office which determined that Carpenter lacked the required sponsor's certificate and that no mistreatment occurred, though it conceded that "Although the guidelines and policies were correctly followed by officers, Border Force accepts that more could have been done to assist Mr Carpenter."{{cite news |last=Gallagher |first=Paul |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/virtuoso-american-organist-blasts-uk-border-officials-after-being-detained-and-deported-just-hours-before-a-show-9206167.html |title=Virtuoso American organist blasts UK border officials after being detained and deported just hours before a show |journal=The Independent |date=March 20, 2014 |accessdate=June 6, 2014 |quote=Having arrived from Berlin at 10:30 pm on Monday for the latest leg of a 31-date global tour, Mr Carpenter says he was escorted onto the next flight back to Germany at 7 am .... |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714175802/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/virtuoso-american-organist-blasts-uk-border-officials-after-being-detained-and-deported-just-hours-before-a-show-9206167.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Travis |first=Alan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/16/ministers-apologise-classical-musician-cameron-carpenter |title=Ministers refuse to apologise to US musician wrongly barred from Britain |journal=The Guardian |date=April 16, 2014 |accessdate=June 6, 2014 |quote=Investigation finds no mistreatment of virtuoso ... who was detained overnight and sent back to Berlin. |archive-date=July 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715003209/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/16/ministers-apologise-classical-musician-cameron-carpenter |url-status=live }}

Personal life

Carpenter has been identified as bisexual.{{cite news |last1=Knowles |first1=Claudia |title=The American organist (and former drag queen) in tune with Berlin |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a664ecd2-780d-11e5-a95a-27d368e1ddf7 |accessdate=October 21, 2019 |work=Financial Times |date=October 30, 2015 |location=London |archive-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021184942/https://www.ft.com/content/a664ecd2-780d-11e5-a95a-27d368e1ddf7 |url-status=live }} In a New York Times interview, it was reported, "Mr. Carpenter... describes his sexuality as 'radically inclusive{{'"}}.