UC Research Profile - University of Canterbury

Mr James Gardner

Contact

Department: School of Humanities and Creative Arts ; School of Music

Direct Dial: +64 3 3695732

Office: Fine Arts, Block 2, Room 221

Language: English

About

Research / Creative works

Fields of Research

Music technologies and their histories.
The history and practice of post-war art music, electronic music and popular mus
Notated music composition and performance

Researcher Summary

1. Technological, historical, and sociocultural study of Electronic Music Studios (London) (EMS), both the computer music studios of Peter Zinovieff and the famous music synthesisers, such as the VCS3 and Synthi 100, which EMS produced.

This research is the only substantial and continuing academic work on this area of British/electronic music history and draws on unprecedented access to archival material in the UK and Australia. This strand grew out of the research for the six-part RNZ Concert series and website on electronic music 'These Hopeful Machines'

https://www.rnz.co.nz/concert/programmes/hopefulmachines

2. My compositional work, dealing with the limits of notation, the place of western art music in current society, the possibilities of acoustic instruments, and alternative tuning systems and their frictions with equal temperament.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Music, Literary Arts and Other Arts: Composition and Theory ; Music History and Musicology

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

Gardner JE. and Fox C. (2018) 'It's not something one can deliberately set out to do': Christian Wolff in conversation. Tempo 72(283): 56-79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0040298217000948. (Journal Articles)

Gardner J., Finnissy M., Holloway S., Hawkins R., Menzies M. and Knoop M. (2017) Finnissy: Piano Concerto no.3/...above earth's shadow - by 175 East. Executive Producer, Conductor, Contributor to booklet, Writer, Booklet editor: [Digital download music recording and booklet]. (Artefacts, Objects, Craftworks)

Gardner J.. (2017) The Don Banks Music Box to The Putney: The genesis and development of the VCS3 synthesiser.. In Landy L (Eds). Organised Sound 22(2 (Alternative Histories of Electroacoustic Music)): 217-227. Cambridge University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1355771817000127. (Conference Contributions - Published)

Gardner JE. (2017) Nakashima Burl. Composers Edition, UK. Ben Hoadley via Creative New Zealand. [for bassoon and string trio]. c.26 minutes. (Compositions)

Gardner JE. (2017) Tape Leaders: A Compendium of Early British Electronic Music Composers by Ian Helliwell (Book review). TEMPO 71(280): 95-97. Cambridge University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0040298217000195. (Other)

Gardner JE. (2017) torc (commissioned 12-minute composition for alto trombone and violin). Creative New Zealand. [Music composition]. c.12 minutes. (Compositions)

Gardner JE. (2017) Work In Progress, Flow, and the Observer Effect. University of Canterbury School of Music, Arts Centre Location, Christchurch, New Zealand: Composing on Shifting Ground, 29-30 Apr 2017. (Conference Contributions - Other)

Gardner J. (2016) Even Orpheus Needs a Synthi. Tempo 70(276): 56-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0040298215000984. (Journal Articles)

Gardner J. (2016) The Don Banks Music Box to The Putney: The genesis and evolution of the VCS3 synthesiser. Science Museum Research Centre, Queen's Gate, London, England: AHEM (Alternative Histories of Electronic Music), 14-16 Apr 2016. (Conference Contributions - Other)

Gardner J. (2016) The Fall and Rise of Harpsichord 6 (hour-long programme and associated website for RNZ Concert). Auckland, New Zealand: RNZ Concert. [Hour long radio programme published on air and on website comprising correspondence, 5 interviews, 47 compiled recordings, 15 images, and 11 links. Concerns noted British harpsichord maker Thomas Goff and his instruments, one of which purchased by Ra]. (Other)

Gardner JE. (2016) Peddling the Putney: Early Adopters and the Marketing of EMS synthesisers. SAE Melbourne, Australia: Synthposium 2016, 14-14 Nov 2016. (Conference Contributions - Other)

Gardner J. (2014) Displacement Activities (commissioned composition for piano and electronics). Composers Edition. Dzovig Markarian/Creative New Zealand. [For piano, speaking pianist, live electronics and fixed media, was commissioned by US pianist Dzovig Markarian with funding from Creative New Zealand. Piece explores notions of displacement, belonging and exile.]. c.17 minutes. (Compositions)

Gardner J. (2013) Queer Studies (15-minute composition for solo violin) 1: Seventy Standard Stoppages 2: Ciphers 3: Muscae Volitantes. [Music]. c.15 minutes. (Compositions)

Gardner J. (2013) These Hopeful Machines (radio series of six, hour-long programmes plus extensive website). Auckland, New Zealand: Radio New Zealand. [Radio Series/Website, with 6 hour-long programmes on electronic music, 28 web pages. Commissioned by Radio NZ Concert. Features interviews with 12 major figures.]. (Other)

Gardner J. (2013) Zappa and the razor: editing, sampling and musique concrète. In Carr P (Ed.), Frank Zappa and the And: 67-84. Farnham: Ashgate (Routledge). (Chapters)

Gardner J., Golia V., Keam G., Nunns R. and O'Connor C. (2012) Performance of improvised music with Vinny Golia, Glenda Keam, Richard Nunns and Chris O’Connor. Performer: WildBeast, CalArts, Valencia, California, USA. [Music]. (Performances)