This very original composer studied with Wallingford Riegger and Edgard Varèse and has taught at Northwestern University, Yale University, U.C.L.A., Cal State, and other institutions, as well as teaching privately. He has performed with and co-founded several musical groups, including the Crossfire Mission Orchestra in the late '60s in New Haven (radical performances often behind barbed wire), the Mysterious Traveling Cabaret, the American Music Theater in California, the Blast Opera Theater, and has undertaken concerts and arts education work with the Grey Wolf Project. His works include Survivors in Pale Light a theater piece taped for PBS with the Blast Opera players both singing and acting (he refers to the form as an opera "ostrannie" (Russian word meaning laid bare, or everything exposed; for example, the actors are acting and at the same time, not "acting"); Hypothetical Structures, Books I and II; Cantalobosolo, (1995) a monodrama for contrabassist, singer, and actor; Dances of the Tunnel Saints (1995) for two pianos and percussion; and Powder Songs of the Lady Magicians (1996) staged in a ritualistic circle for singer/actor, percussion, and droning strings. ~ "Blue Gene" Tyranny, All Music Guide
