McArthur Genius award for sound ?

Subject: McArthur Genius award for sound ?
From: Les B
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 08:42 PM

I saw in the paper this morning (American side of the pond) that the MAcArthur Foundation announced its annual genius awards, with $500,000 going to 25 people - presumably $20,000 each.

What caught my eye, buried in about the fifth paragraph, was a reference to a history professor "who focuses on sound". Anybody have any idea what this fellow does (or did)?   I'm intrigued.

Subject: RE: McArthur Genius award for sound ?
From: Les B
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 08:50 PM

Holy cow !! One paper reports that the recipients get $100,000 a year for five years. Can that be right ?

Not much more info on the the "aural historian" other than this:

Emily Thompson , 43, associate professor of history, University of California, San Diego. Thompson is an aural historian whose work has touched on everything from urban design to cinema studies.

I wonder if she's into traditional music ?

Subject: RE: McArthur Genius award for sound ?
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 03:48 AM

Yes, indeed, the amount is true. My brother dreamed about it for years. The only catch is a person must be nominated and they do not publicise who the nominators are.

Here's a bio/resume of Thompson's: click here. She's got an interesting background!

From the official website of the MacArthur Fellows Program: The MacArthur Fellowship is a "no strings attached" award in support of people, not projects. Each fellowship comes with a stipend of $500,000 to the recipient, paid out in equal quarterly installments over five years.

Subject: RE: McArthur Genius award for sound ?
From: Les B
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 01:34 PM

Kat - Thanks for the additional info - Boy what a set-up, money-wise, for five years! I'll nominate you, if you'll nominate me.

I also see I was guilty of gender bias by assuming Professor Thompson was a male in my first post. Mea Culpa.   

I also note she spent time at Iowa State Univerisity, where I started my career eons ago. Some of her work on early recording and vaudeville might be of interest to us here at Mudcat.

Subject: RE: McArthur Genius award for sound ?
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 02:36 PM

Deal, Les! Sure wish I knew who some of the nominators were!

Did you look at the list of the other recipeints this year? Quite a diverse group, even a fisherman from Maine! Also, other folks who've had something to do with music, too.

It does look as though some of her stuff would be very interesting. Wonder if she's come across the Mudcat, yet?

Thanks!

kat

Subject: RE: McArthur Genius award for sound ?
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 04:02 PM

In 1995, Meredith Monk won a MacArthur "genius" grant. I heard one of her solo vocal performances and it was unique, strange and captivating. Here is a brief synopsis from her website, www.meredithmonk.org:

Meredith Monk is a composer, singer, director/choreographer and creator of new opera, musical theater works, films and installations. A pioneer in what is now called "extended vocal technique" and "interdisciplinary performance", ....Her ground breaking exploration of the voice as an instrument, as an eloquent language in and of itself, expands the boundaries of musical composition, creating landscapes of sound that unearth feelings, energies, and memories for which we have no words. She has alternately been proclaimed as a "voice of the future" and "one of America's coolest composers."

She has made more than a dozen recordings, most of which are on the ECM New Series label. A new CD 'mercy' was released in November, 2002.

In October 1999 Monk performed a Vocal Offering for His Holiness, the Dalai Lama as part of the World Festival of Sacred Music in Los Angeles. Her first orchestra piece 'Possible Sky' commissioned by Michael Tilson Thomas for the New World Symphony, premiered in April 2003 in Miami. Current projects include a new work for the Western Wind Vocal Ensemble; and the Kronos Quartet.

Subject: RE: McArthur Genius award for sound ?
From: Les B
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 07:41 PM

Elmer Fudd - I used to work for a small arts theater and it seems to me we had Meridith Monk in our performing arts series one year. Can't remember when, and I don't actually remember seeiing/hearing her (I could have been on vacation).   

I suspect she was associated with one of the many modern dance troupes we presented back then because her name is sure familiar.
We also presented avant garde musician Philip Glass way back when, and I think he might have gotten a MacArthur, too.   

We used to apply for, and sometimes get, organizational grants from the John and Catherine MacArthur Foundation for our media and theater programs. They had pretty deep pockets and supported some amazing work.