David Behrman
Crystalline interactions between woodwinds and early computer systems. A serene, unhurried dialogue where technology learns to listen to the human breath.
Crystalline interactions between woodwinds and early computer systems. A serene, unhurried dialogue where technology learns to listen to the human breath.
Listening to David Behrman feels like watching a conversation between a living musician and a curious, gentle machine. The music is defined by a sense of 'listening' - not just from you, but from the software itself, which responds to the pitches and timbres of flutes or cellos with shimmering electronic harmonies. It is remarkably airy and spacious, avoiding the aggressive clatter of much experimental music in favor of a soft, glowing minimalism.
What makes Behrman distinctive is his pioneering use of interactive electronics. Rather than playing a fixed tape, his computers act as improvisational partners, sensing what the human performer is doing and offering harmonic support in real-time. This creates a unique 'organic-digital' hybrid where the technology feels warm and responsive rather than cold or rigid. The melodies drift with the unhurried pace of a tide coming in.
Start with 'On the Other Ocean' to experience the foundational magic of this approach. It is an essential document of the 1970s avant-garde that remains incredibly accessible, offering a peaceful, intellectual sanctuary for anyone who needs to clear their mental slate or find a deep, rhythmic focus.
David Behrman (born August 16, 1937) is an American composer and a pioneer of computer music. In 1966, Behrman co-founded Sonic Arts Union with fellow composers Robert Ashley, Alvin Lucier and Gordon Mumma. He was also the producer of Columbia Records' late 1960s Music of Our Time series, which introduced recordings by Terry Riley, John Cage, Steve Reich, and Pauline Oliveros to a wider audience. Behrman wrote the music for Merce Cunningham's dances Walkaround Time (1968), Rebus (1975), Pictures (1984) and Eyespace 40 (2007). In 1978, he released his debut album On the Other Ocean, a pioneering work combining computer music with live performance.
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