Janet Dunbar

Dr. Janet Dunbar is an American composer.

Biography

=Musical life=

Dunbar earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Composition {{cite journal| title=Short Takes| url=http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2009/sepoct/show/shorttakes.html | journal=Stanford Magazine| year=2009| publisher=Stanford University| location=Stanford, CA| access-date=2011-07-23| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807131015/http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2009/sepoct/show/shorttakes.html| archive-date=2011-08-07}} at Stanford University, working under composers Chris Chafe, John Chowning, Jonathan Harvey and Wayne Peterson.{{cite web |url=https://ccrma.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/user/aaddo/Winter_Concert_1997_Program.pdf |title=CCRMA Winter Concert Program |author=CCRMA |access-date=September 19, 2011}}

{{cite web |url=https://ccrma.stanford.edu/events/winter-concert-1997

|title=CCRMA Winter Concert Program |author=CCRMA |access-date=September 27, 2011}}

During the years when Dunbar worked at CCRMA (Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics, Stanford University), the composer produced computer music compositions which integrated traditional instruments, poetic recitations and vocal melodies with algorithmically composed music{{cite web |url=https://ccrma.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/user/aaddo/Winter_Concert_1997_Program.pdf |title=CCRMA Winter Concert Program |author=CCRMA |access-date=September 19, 2011}} which was seeded with world music motives.{{cite web |url=https://ccrma.stanford.edu/events/concerts/Fall-1994.html |title=CCRMA Fall Concert |author=CCRMA |date=November 15, 1994 |access-date=October 14, 2011}} This algorithmic composition{{cite journal |title=Algorithmic Composition: A Gentle Introduction to Music Composition Using Common LISP and Common Music| hdl=2027/spo.bbv9810.0001.001|author=Mary Simoni |journal=SPO Scholarly Monograph Series| year=2003| publisher=University of Michigan| location=Ann Arbor, MI}} and digital synthesis required fluency in computer languages including Common Lisp, Common Lisp Music{{cite journal |title=Machine Tongues XVII: CLM: Music V Meets Common Lisp|jstor=3680441 |author=Bill Schottstaedt |journal=Computer Music Journal|date=June 1994 |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=30–37|publisher=MIT Press|doi=10.2307/3680441 }}{{cite journal |title=An Introduction to Common Music|jstor=3681213 |author=Heinrich Taube |journal=Computer Music Journal|date=March 1997 |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=29–34|publisher=MIT Press|doi=10.2307/3681213 }} and Heinrich Taube's Stella.{{cite journal |title=Stella: Persistent Score Representation and Score Editing in Common Music|jstor=3680543 |author=Heinrich Taube |journal=Computer Music Journal|date=December 1993 |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=38–50|publisher=MIT Press|doi=10.2307/3680543 }} This work culminated in the production of the CD, Spirit Journey. Prior to the CCRMA years, Dunbar earned a Master of Arts degree in Music from San Jose State University, where the composer studied composition, counterpoint and agogic accents with Tikey Zes, electronic music composition with Allen Strange, and instrumental composition with Jorge Liderman. Currently Dunbar composes works for orchestra,{{cite journal| title=Short Takes| url=http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2009/sepoct/show/shorttakes.html | journal=Stanford Magazine| year=2009| publisher=Stanford University| location=Stanford, CA| access-date=2011-07-23| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807131015/http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2009/sepoct/show/shorttakes.html| archive-date=2011-08-07}}{{Citation | last=Young | first=Christianne | author-link=Christianne Young | title='Modern' Classical: Colleyville Composer's Music Gets International Play | newspaper=The Colleyville Courier | location=Fort Worth, TX | date=August 5, 2009 | page=1 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.janetdunbar.com/htms/press-releases-janet-dunbar.php |title=Press Releases |author=Amberlight Productions |access-date=October 14, 2011}} and other forces, directs Amberlight Conservatory and teaches at Tarrant County College in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.{{citation needed|date=September 2011}}

Selected compositions

= Orchestral =

Emergence (2010)
Episodes (2010)
Déjà Vu (2010)
Vision (Visión) (2009)
Epiphany (Epifanía) (2009)
Symphony of the Woods (2008)

= Choral =

Ave Maria for mixed chorus (2008)
Glory to God in the Highest for SAT/B (1992)
Agnus Dei for SAT (1990)

= Chamber =

An Inexplicable Variation Fixation for string quartet (2009)
Transformation (Transformación) for guitar quartet (2009)
Autumn Autograph for two guitars (2008)
When the Spirit Moves You… for string quartet (2008)
Spring Fever Triptych for two guitars (2008)
Duo for trumpet and electric guitar with piano accompaniment (2008)
The Radiance of Her Light, I-III for soprano, performance poet, and two percussionists, (1996–1997)
Inanna and the Divine Essences for soprano, violin and cello (1995)
South Fork of a Daystream for violin and guitar (1993)
A Light Left On for soprano and piano (1993)
Guitar Quartet (1992)
String Quintet (1991) for string quartet and guitar

= Solo =

Inside My Wildest Dreams for solo piano (2010)
Subterranean Grotto for solo double bass (2008)
Sleep Dancing (Bailando en Sueños) for solo guitar (2008)
Vary Vary Rondo for solo horn (2008)
Recuerdos de Segovia for solo guitar (2007): revised 2008
Mutated Permutations for solo flute (1992)
Variations after Bartok for solo piano (1992)
Crystal Mines for solo piano (1992)
Dances for solo piano (1992)
Theme and Variations for solo piano (1992)
Two Part Invention for solo piano (1991)
Fugue for solo piano (1991)
Charles Ives Visits the Red River Valley for solo piano (1990)
Twelve Tones Stand Alone for solo guitar (1990)
Antonym for solo piano (1990)
Subject and Reflection for solo piano (1990)

= Computer music =

Spirit Journey CD (1999)
Song of the Sea, I-X for soprano, performance poet, and CD (1997–1998)
Song of the Bear, I-II for soprano, performance poet, and CD (1996)
Nine Prayers, I-III for soprano, performance poet and CD (1996)
Song of the Shaman, I-IV for soprano, performance poet, percussionist and CD (1995)
Life on Earth, I-III for performance poet and tape (1994)
Jailbreak on tape (1990)