Ben Richter Explained

Ben Richter
Birth Date:	1986
Origin:	United States
Occupation:	composer, performer
Instrument:	accordion
Label:	Infrequent Seams, Indexical
Associated Acts:	Ghost Ensemble
Website:	https://www.benrichtermusic.com

Ben Richter (born 1986) is an American composer, accordionist, and director of Ghost Ensemble, an experimental chamber ensemble based in New York.^[1]

Biography

Ben Richter was born in the United States in 1986. Specializing in microtonal accordion performance, he composes chamber music that explores subtle gestures, the interactions of gradual processes, modes of awareness, and Deep Listening.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} He has collaborated with Pauline Oliveros, Phill Niblock, Carmina Escobar, SEM Ensemble, Nieuw Ensemble, and The Dresden Dolls, among others.^[6] He teaches at CalArts^[7] and holds an M.M. in music from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague (2012) and a B.A. from Bard College (2008), where he studied with Kyle Gann, Joan Tower, and George Tsontakis and privately with Pauline Oliveros. In 2012, he founded Ghost Ensemble, which frequently performs his music and that of other living composers.^[8]

Selected compositions

Richter's works include:

• Healing Ghost/Destroying Angel (2013), a 60-minute diptych chamber work for Ghost Ensemble.^[9]
• Farther Reaches (2013), a slowly building orchestra work exploring timbral shifts and constant portamento movement.^{[10] [11] [12]}
• Rivulose (2015), piano concerto featured at Ostrava Days 2015 and on Czech Radio.^[13]
• Wind People (2016), an acoustic chamber work for Ghost Ensemble combining elements of ambient drone, doom metal, and classical music.^{[14] [15]}
• Panthalassa: Dream Music of the Once and Future Ocean (2017), a 46-minute immersive work for just intonation accordion.^[12]
• Tides of the Wolf (2019), an opera collaboration with novelist Edie Meidav and vocalist Carmina Escobar.^{[1] [16]}

Discography

as Ben Richter

• Panthalassa: Dream Music of the Once and Future Ocean - CD (Infrequent Seams, June 2017)^[17]

with Ghost Ensemble

• We Who Walk Again - LP (Indexical, May 2018)^{[18] [19]}
• Lightbulb Ensemble & Ghost Ensemble Live at Pioneer Works (Indexical, 2015)^[20]

with The Dresden Dolls

• The Dresden Dolls: In Paradise - DVD (Roadrunner Records, 2005)^[21]

External links

• Official web site

Notes and References

1. "Tides of the Wolf" http://imaginedtheatres.com/ben-richter/ Imagined Theatres. August 2019. Web. 18 Jan. 2020.
2. Smoliar, Stephen. 2017. "The Joyous Cacophony of the Ives Band" http://therehearsalstudio.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-joyous-cacophony-of-ives-band.html The Rehearsal Studio. July 7, 2017. Web. 18 Jan. 2020.
3. Wilhoite, Meg. 2018. "We Who Walk Again: CD Review" https://megsnewmusicblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/06/we-who-walk-again-cd-review Meg's New Music Blog. September 6, 2018. Web. 18 Jan. 2020.
4. Olewnick, Brian. 2018. "Ghost Ensemble - We Who Walk Again" https://olewnick.blogspot.com/2018/05/ghost-ensemble-we-who-walk-again.html Just Outside. May 27, 2018. Web. 18 Jan. 2020.
5. Grella, George. 2014. "Ghost Ensemble Embodies the Spirit of Rugged Independence" https://newyorkclassicalreview.com/2014/05/ghost-ensemble-embodies-the-spirit-of-rugged-independence/ New York Classical Review. May 18, 2014. Web. 18 Jan. 2020.
6. Web site: Ghost Ensemble with Pauline Oliveros. Deep Listening Institute. January 18, 2020.
7. Web site: School of Music: Ben Richter. California Institute of the Arts. January 18, 2020.
8. Meline, Gabe. 2018. "Ghost Ensemble and the 'Deep Listening' of Pauline Oliveros" https://www.kqed.org/arts/13831791/ghost-ensemble-and-the-deep-listening-of-pauline-oliveros KQED Arts & Culture. May 9, 2018. Web. 18 Jan. 2020.
9. Web site: Healing Ghost. Indexical. January 18, 2020.
10. Gottschalk, Kurt. 14 Oct 2013. "Ostrava 2013" https://nmbx.newmusicusa.org/ostrava-2013/ NewMusicBox. 14 Oct 2013. Web. 18 Jan. 2020.
11. Bendova, Aneta and Podracky, Jan. 2 Sep 2013. "Ostravské dny 2013 naposledy" https://operaplus.cz/ostravske-dny-2013-naposledy/ OperaPlus. 2 Sep 2013. Web. 18 Jan. 2020.
12. Avant Music News. 18 May 2017. "AMN Reviews: Ben Richter – Panthalassa: Dream Music of the Once and Future Ocean (2017; Infrequent Seams)" https://avantmusicnews.com/2017/05/18/amn-reviews-ben-richter-panthalassa-dream-music-of-the-once-and-future-ocean-2017-infrequent-seams/ Avant Music News. 18 May 2017. Web. 18 Jan. 2020.
13. Gottschalk, Kurt. 31 Jan 2016. "Kurt Gottschalk at Ostrava Days 2015 [REVIEW]" http://www.classicalite.com/articles/31327/20160131/exclusive-student-teaching-kurt-gottschalk-at-ostrava-days-2015-review.htm Classicalite. 31 Jan 2016. Web. 18 Jan. 2020.
14. Web site: Wind People. Indexical. January 18, 2020.
15. Carey, Christian. 24 Jun 2017. "Ghost Ensemble: We Who Walk Again (LP Review)" http://www.sequenza21.com/2018/06/ghost-ensemble-we-who-walk-again-lp-review/ Sequenza21. 24 Jun 2017. Web. 18 Jan. 2020.
16. SCV News. 13 Jun 2019. "CalArts Faculty to Perform in Apophenia Wolf Concert" https://scvnews.com/calarts-faculty-to-perform-in-apophenia-wolf-concert/ SCV News. 13 Jun 2019. Web. 18 Jan. 2020.
17. Web site: Panthalassa: Dream Music of the Once and Future Ocean. Infrequent Seams. January 18, 2020.
18. Web site: Ghost Ensemble: We Who Walk Again. Indexical. January 18, 2020.
19. Margasak, Peter. 21 Dec 2018. "The Best Contemporary Classical Albums of 2018" https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-of-2018/the-best-contemporary-classical-albums-of-2018 Bandcamp Daily. 21 Dec 2018. Web. 18 Jan. 2020.
20. Web site: Lightbulb Ensemble & Ghost Ensemble Live at Pioneer Works. Indexical. January 18, 2020.
21. Web site: IMDB - The Dresden Dolls: In Paradise. IMDB. January 18, 2020.