Jeff Snyder - Composer / Improviser / Instrument Designer

  
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photo credit: Stina Hasse

 
UPCOMING EVENTS:

6-2012: Stina Hasse and Jeff Snyder's sound art installation Move/Bevaeg Dig will be shown at the BEAM festival in Uxbridge, UK.

6-2012: Jeff Snyder's piece Fantasy for Magnetic Resonator Piano will be performed as part of CMMR 2012 (Computer Music Modeling and Retreival) in London on June 18th, 2012.

6-2012: Sideband is recording our debut album in June!

6-2012: Sideband will play at the Museum of the Moving Image on June 15th, 2012.

5-2012: Jeff Snyder will present his paper "The JD-1: an Implementation of a Hybrid Keyboard/Sequencer Controller for Analog Synthesizers" at NIME 2012 (New Interfaces for Musical Expression) in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

5-2012: Sideband will play at Music With a View at the Flea Theater on May 16th, 2012.

 

PAST EVENTS:  

4-2012: Jeff Snyder gave a talk titled "Electronic Made Acoustic" at the Symposium on Electroacoustic Performance at Brooklyn College in NYC, organized by Douglas Geers.

4-2012: exclusiveOr, Jeff Snyder's duo with Sam Pluta, performed at Livestock Exchange in Princeton, NJ.

4-2012: Jeff Snyder's new piece for Laptop Orchestra, Undeciphered Writing, was performed by Sideband in April of 2012 at SLEO, the Symposium for Laptop Ensembles and Orchestras, in Baton Rouge, LA.

4-2012: Jeff Snyder's new piece for Laptop Orchestra, Undeciphered Writing, was performed by PLOrk, the Princeton Laptop Orchestra in April of 2012 at Richardson Auditorium in Princeton, NJ.

3-2012: Jeff Snyder presented a paper at MMI 2012 , the Music, Mind and Invention Workshop, and also performed with Sideband as the invited ensemble.

3-2012: Jeff Snyder presented a paper with Stina Hasse at MMI 2012 , the Music, Mind and Invention Workshop, and also performed with Sideband as the invited ensemble.

2-2012: Jeff Snyder performed on modular synthesizer in a group with Sam Pluta, Peter Evans, Jim Altieri, Tom Blancarte and Dan Peck at the AC Institute for the opening of Sam Pluta's installation there on Feb 10th, 2012.

11-2011: Eric Wubbels performed Jeff Snyder's Fantasy for Magnetic Resonator Piano at Temple University in Philadelphia. The Magnetic Resonator Piano is an instrument designed by Andrew Macpherson.

11-2011: Jeff Snyder recently finished the design and construction of the new Snyderphonics JD-1 keyboard/sequencer. Check it out on http://www.snyderphonics.com/

11-2011: Presented my analog pen plotter drawings as part of the Algorithmic Unconscious show at Devotion Gallery in Williamsburg, NYC.

10-2011: Jeff Snyder's duo with Sam Pluta, exclusiveOr, played at Roulette in NYC as part of the Sonic Festival. Here is a video of the performance.

10-2011: Jeff Snyder performed on Manta and computer-controlled cymbals, and presented at the “Science Fair” in the Max/MSP Cycling 74 Expo at NYU Poly in NYC.

9-2011: Jeff Snyder performed at the Gutter in NYC in a duo with Eric Wubbels on a dual-Manta computer-controlled cymbals rig. Video of the performance is here.

6-2011: Jeff Snyder presented the Birl and the Manta at the Solid Sound Festival at Mass MOCA as part of Handmade Music, curated by Peter Kirn.

5-2011: Jeff Snyder presented at the 2011 New Interfaces for Musical Expression Conference (NIME) in Oslo, Norway. The paper title is “The Snyderphonics Manta, a novel USB touch controller” .

5-2011: Jeff Snyder performed on analog modular synthesizer with Sam Pluta and Jim Altieri as part of the Carrier Records Showcase at St. Mark's Church in the Bowery, NYC.

5-2011: Jeff Snyder presented his work on invented instruments and pen plotter visual art at the Leaders in Software Art Salon in NYC in May of 2011.

5-2011: Jeff Snyder and Sam Pluta performed as exclusiveOr at the Roosevelt Arts Project. They improvised a live score to a 1960s documentary about rabbits. Video of the performance is available here.

4-2011: Jeff Snyder's piece for laptop orchestra, Whac-A-Note, is performed by PLOrk, the Princeton Laptop Orchestra, at Taplin Auditorium in Princeton, and at 92Y Tribeca in NYC.

2-2011: Jeff Snyder presented the current version of the birl, his electromechanical wind instrument, at the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition at Georgia Tech.

11-10: CONSUME -an existential taste test in 5 acts- featured my piece "Percussion II". It was an unusual theatrical presentation of recent music that involves computers, put on by the group Music Under the Influence of Computers, headed by Rick Snow and David Medine and supported by the CRCA at UC-San Diego. It's the first time one of my more technically complex pieces has been presented without my physically being there. Hats off to those guys!

11-10: Jeff Snyder presented his recent visual art using pen plotters to etch circuitboard landscapes at Dorkbot NYC on November 3rd, 2010. He also showed some experiments using analog synthesizers to control analog pen plotters. Here is a video of the presentation, and some pictures that Douglas Repetto took. Gabriella Mangino wrote an article about it for Motherboard.tv.

6-10: Jeff Snyder performs on analog modular synthesizer for Katherine Young's show at Issue Project Room

6-10: Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves played at the Ding Dong Lounge with Habit Trail. Casey took pictures!

5-10: Jeff Snyder is now Dr. Jeff Snyder. Just received my doctorate from Columbia University in Music Composition! I've also got a new job as the Technical Director for the Electronic Music Studios at Princeton University, and as the Associate Director of the Princeton Laptop Orchestra, or PLOrk.

4-10: Jeff Snyder presented the birl (his electromechanical wind instrument) at Dorkbot NYC. Douglas took pics!

3-10: Jeff Snyder did a short residency and gave a presentation at STEIM in Amsterdam.

3-10: Jeff Snyder showed the Manta at the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition at Georgia Tech.

3-10: Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves played at CDM's Handmade Music event in March of 2010. Some video here.

6-09: Jeff Snyder improvised on Serge Modular Synthesizer with Katherine Young on bassoon and Erica Dicker on violin at Ibeam on Sunday, June 21st.

6-09: The Draftmasters performed with Dan Iglesia and Glissando Bin Laden at Monkeytown on Saturday, June 20th, 7:30 PM. The Draftmasters are Victor Adan and Jeff Snyder controlling antiquated pen-plotters with the Manta.

8-09: Cougar released their 2nd album, Patriot, in August of 2009 on NinjaTune Records. The album includes a fantastically played cover of Jeff Snyder's song Endings.

5-09: Jeff Snyder's electronic musical instrument company, Snyderphonics, releases the production model of the Manta. The Manta is a controller for music and video, with a hexagonal touch-sensor interface. Here are two nice reviews! Vlad Spears' review, Darwin Grosse's review. Here are some videos: 1, 2, 3

5-09: Jeff Snyder's doctoral dissertation piece, Concerning the Nature of Things, was performed at St. Peter's Church in Chelsea, NYC. The piece featured 5 of Jeff's invented instruments: the Bass Manta, the Resophonic Manta, the treble contravielle, the tenor contravielle, and the birl. The piece was performed by Wet Ink Ensemble, including Eric Wubbels, Ian Antonio, Erin Lesser, Matt Hough and Joshua Modney on the instruments, and Kate Soper and Matt Hough on vocals.

3-09: Two videos of Drafmasters performances are up on Vimeo. Check out Draftmasters I and Draftmasters II.

2-09: Jeff Snyder throws a party to celebrate the completion of a production run of Snyderphonics Mantas. Owen Lake, Jeff Snyder's electro-country alter ego, performs with his new band, the Tragic Loves. Read a brief interview here.

1-09: A recording of Jeff Snyder's piece for chamber ensemble, Traceries, has been released on Carrier Records. It's available from the Carrier Records website, or through I-Tunes.

12-08: Jeff Snyder's Percussion III, a piece for string orchestra and computer-controlled ride cymbals, was performed by the Knights String Orchestra on Dec. 7th, 2008, as part of the Bargemusic series. Eric Wubbels controlled the cymbal part on the Snyderphonics Manta.

11-08: Jeff Snyder's Sunspots, a piece for Buchla synthesizer and resonating objects, was released on The Language Of, a compilation of New York City experimental musicians. The CD is available on I-Tunes, and through QuietDesign Records in Austin, TX.

10-08: Jeff Snyder's Traceries, for chamber ensemble, was performed by Wet Ink as part of their season 10 opener. The performance was recorded, to be later released as part of the new Wet Ink CD on Carrier Records.

10-08:The Draftmasters present at Eyebeam Gallery as part of Untethered.

7-08: Jeff Snyder presents his work to high school students taking a summer music course at NYU.

5-08:The Draftmasters, Jeff's new band with Victor Adan, will have it's debut performace on May 8th, 2008, at the Tank. Also inlcuded on the show is a set by Glissando bin Laden, a duet betwen Brad Garton and Dan Trueman, and some of Dan Iglesia's red/blue glasses 3D video work. Find out who is king of the Princeton/Columbia Electronic Music Center dynasty.

The Draftmasters is poised to become the world's foremost (read: only) live pen-plotter band. Be there to experience the beginning of greatness!

 

4-08: . Jeff Snyder's piece, Vox In Vitro, was performed by ICE (the International Contemporary Ensemble), at Merkin Concert Hall, on Saturday, April 5th. The piece was the first notated work for his new instruments, including the MEAPbook and treble/tenor Countervielles. It combines his invented instruments, played by Eric Wubbels, Jim Altieri, and Matt Hough, with an 8-member ensemble of traditional instruments.

4-08: . exclusiveOr, an electronic music duo featuring Jeff Snyder and Sam Pluta, performed at Monkeytown, on Wednesday, 16 April 2008. The performance was part of the HiFi New Music Festival in NYC.

2-08: Jeff Snyder's electronic country EP as Owen Lake was released in February of 2008. The album features guest musicians Dave Novak (of the Trailblazers) on guitar and backup vocals, Matt Hough (of Zs and the Seductive Sprigs) Bob Hoffnar on pedal steel, Anna Stirr and Maria Sonevetsky (of Debutante Hour) on vocals, and Ryan Smith (of Twin Thousands, the Silent League, and Stars Like Fleas) on keyboards.

1-08: Jeff Snyder will be presenting his new instruments at this month's Dorkbot NYC. Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008, at 7pm. Location One, 26 Greene Street (between Canal and Grand). Free and open to the public.

12-07: Wet Ink's season opener includes the debut of Jeff Snyder's trio of instruments, the MEAPbook/counter-harmonium, and his tenor and treble "string" instruments. The performance is at Symphony Space, Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater.
11-07: Jeff Snyder's newest instrument, based on a "string instrument" interface, is finished and ready for it's first performance on Dec.1st, 2007.
10-07: Jeff wins 2nd place in the Cypress Semiconductor Innovator Design Challenge 2007 for the MEAPbook.
10-07: The ver1.3 MEAPbook circuits are back from the fabricator, and they look terrific. Work is starting on the production of 14 models for beta-testing.
8-07: Twin Thousands' debut single, Like You A Lot, includes a remix by Scattershot. It's released on Exercise1 recordings.
8-07: The wood case for the ver 1.2 MEAPbook is finished and the code is complete. It's alive!
7-07: Jeff Snyder completed the ver1.2 MEAPbook circuit design and got them fabricated. Thanks to the MEAP fund, an equipment donation from Cypress Semiconductor, PCBExpress, and Screaming Circuits.
6-07: Jeff Snyder demonstrated the first prototype of the MEAPbook at NIME 2007 (New Interfaces for Musical Expression). Jeff performed a duet for MEAPbook and Serge Modular Synthesizer with Eric Wubbels on the final night of the concert. This early MEAPbook is now referred to as the "Soviet" prototype.
5-07: Gandalf Gavan's solo exhibition at the Larissa Goldston Gallery includes a collaboration with Jeff Snyder: Back Rooms and Other Places of Public Privacy. The exhibit is open from May 12-June 23rd.

5-07: Jeff Snyder performed Materials, his work for analog modular synthesizer and chamber orchestra, as part of Wet Ink's "New Works for Large Ensemble" concert.

Thursday, May 3rd: New Works for Large Ensemble
performed by the Wet Ink Ensemble
works by: Reiko Fueting, Beat Furrer, Phill Niblock, Vincent Raikhel, Katharine Soper and Jeff Snyder
at New York Quarterly Meeting House

5-07: Jeff Snyder performed his live score to the modern dance ensemble Fivefour's new work at Joyce Soho on the weekend of May 10th through May 12th.

4-07: exclusiveOr, a duo project consisting of Jeff Snyder and Sam Pluta on Buchla and Serge modular synthesizers, has completed its debut album.

2-07: Jeff Snyder's duet for electric guitar and accordion, Epicycles, was performed again by Eric Wubbels and Matt Hough on March 19th, at Symphony Space, as part of the Wet Ink 2006-2007 season.

2-07: Jeff Snyder's duet for electric guitar and accordion, Epicycles, was premeired by Eric Wubbels and Matt Hough on March 2nd, at Juilliard for the Columbia Composers' concert series.

9-06: Jeff Snyder's revised version of Nomographs, written for the Timetable Percussion Trio, was premeired on September 9th, 2006 at the Tenri Cultural Institute. A recording of the piece is planned for the summer of 2007.

5-06: A piece by Jeff Snyder and Ryan Smith was used for a video installation by Nora Stephens and Diana Carulli. The project was presented in the Brookyn Public Library, main branch, at Grand Army Plaza from May 17-June 25th.

2-06: Jeff Snyder debuted his new version of Percussion, for computer-controlled cymbals on February 24th of 2006. The concert was part of the Wet Ink 2005/2006 season, and featured an improvisation by Trio (with Christian Wolff, Larry Polanski and Kui Dong) as the second set.

2-06: The new single for A Million Billion's Volcano Season comes out on Exercise 1 Records in the UK on February 27th. Included is the Scattershot remix of the title track.

2-06: Jeff Snyder's Dance Suite was premiered by L'Ensemble Portique, a group that performs Baroque chamber music alongside contemporary pieces written for early instruments, on February 10th of 2006.

1-06: On January 5th, Jeff Snyder performed a solo set of live electronics at an event for the poetry journal Antennae at ACA Galleries in NYC.

12-05: Jeff Snyder and Ryan Smith performed a duo electronics set as The Creations on December 8th as part of the Wet Ink 05/06 concert season.

11-05: Jeff Snyder's transcriptions of Bach chorales for two saxophones, accordion, and two guitars were performed on the November 20th Wet Ink Concert.

10-05: Jeff Snyder is presenting some of his new sound installation work at Dorkbot NYC on Wednesday, October 5th.

   

7-05: Jeff Snyder wrote music to accompany Lunch Date by the modern dance duo FiveFour. It's being performed on July 18th, 25th, and 28th at Chashama.
6-05: On June 15th, 2005 Jeff Snyder's newest concert work, Traceries, is premiered. Written for flute, bass clarinet, violin, 'cello, accordion, electric guitar, marimba and electronics, it is performed by the Wet Ink Ensemble at the Bowery Poetry Club as part of the '04-'05 Wet Ink Season.
6-05: Jeff Snyder performs on electronics for several pieces in the Counter)Induction concert 'Big Science'. June 3rd, 2005 at the Tenri Cultural Institute.

5-05: On May 21st, 2005, Scattershot rocked a Brooklyn junkyard, playing Gandalf Gavan's MFA graduation party.

4-05: Jeff Snyder's new piece for the Timetable Percussion Trio was premiered at the Bowery Poetry Club, as part of the Wet Ink 2004-2005 season.
4-05: The Nora New Dance Company presented an evening of dance with music and a sound installation by Jeff Snyder and Ryan Smith.
2-05: Jeff Snyder performed as Scattershot for a benefit concert for the Nora New Dance Company held at the Llano Estacado. New songs were brought out, including some that will land on the new EP.
1-05: Jeff Snyder and Eric Wubbels perform together as 'The Disembodied Head of Peter Ladefoged' at the John Cage Music Circus, held at the Construction Company.

12-04: Jeff Snyder and Eric Wubbels collaborated with Nora Stephens and the Nora New Dance Company on a window performance at the new Chashama space. The audience watched the piece through the window outside the building, and heard the music through speakers outside.

11-04: Jeff Snyder performed, as Scattershot, a suite of his own arrangements of the music from The Last Ninja, by Ben Daglish, at the Free 103.9 Game Overture II at Office Ops.

10-04: Jeff Snyder's most recent concert piece, Intervellum, (for electric guitar, rhodes piano, violin, and 'cello) is performed at the Tenri Cultural Institute on October 16th. A recording is included on the music page.
9-04: Jeff Snyder's installation with Gandalf Gavan, Speak Low, is displayed for the Columbia University 250th Anniversary Event in the entrance to the Low Library on Columbia's campus on the weekend of September 30th. View some photographs of the installation.
8-04: Jeff Snyder tours with the Power-Ups as synthesist/arranger. Great audiences and great press response! Interviews run in the Chicago Tribune and Philadephia City Paper, plus critic's choice in Minneapolis City Pages, and several other independent weeklies...
6-04: Jeff Snyder collaborates with choreographer Nora Stephens on a new video piece, White Butterfly.
5-04: Jeff Snyder collaborates with visual artist Gandalf Gavan on an installation at the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council building, Speak Low for a Perfect Communication of the Soul.
4-04: Jeff Snyder's recent concert music piece, Vibration I, recieves its premiere performance with the Timetable percussion trio, William Schimmel on accordion, Matt Hough on guitar, Matt Cody conducting, and the composer on electronics, at Merkin Concert Hall.
1-04: Jeff Snyder performs Tombeau on solo electronics at the Tank.
1-04: Jeff Snyder produced the new album by The Industry, 'Everything Comes With a Price', out soon on Record High Records.
6-03: Jeff Snyder creates a remix for Chicago experimental trio TV Pow.
5-03: Scattershot track "Extrasexual Behavior" is used by Media Assassin Harry Allen as the opening theme music for his radio program, Nonfiction. The show airs on Wednesdays, at 2:00PM on WBAI, New York City's Pacifica station.
4-03: Jeff Snyder performs on solo electronics at Buddy Gallery in Chicago.
3-03: Jeff Snyder performs two compositions (Retina, Priori II) and one improvisation at Deadtech as part of the Decomposure series.

2-03: Natty Nation's new album, "Inatty In Jah Music" is released, with two dub remixes by Scattershot.

Here's an excerpt from a review:

"The best surprises come at the end of the track list with DJ Scattershot's languorous dub mixes of 'Wise & Prudent' and 'Rasta Revolution.' His low-end doesn't obliterate the rest of the music, yet it's just short of teeth-rattling. He also brings snatches of horns, organ and other keyboards in and out of the mix with a space alien's sense of astral harmony." -The Isthmus

6-02: Public Enemy's new album, Revolverlution, is released. It includes a remix of "The B-Side Wins Again" by Jeff Snyder and Ryan Smith. Chuck D called the remix "Beyond anything describable... at the same time the most incredible and possibly the worst sonic experience in some time".

Here are some mentions of the Scattershot remix in reviews of "Revolverlution":

"The 'B-Side Wins Again' remix, in particular, really stands out. The minimalist yet funky drum track fades in and out, augmented by densely textured and frenzied samples that perfectly complement Chuck D's riotous homage to b-sides. Not many old-school acts could pull off such an audacious revision, but Public Enemy have always been musically ahead of the game." - Pitchfork Media

"B Side Wins Again (Scattershot Remix): This bizarre, banging mess of feedback and battering, off-kilter beats sounds like an avante techno Def Jux throwdown. Its tone changes constantly, and despite the unevenness in the song’s sound, it’s as thrilling and strange as anything the band [Public Enemy] has ever done." - Stylus Magazine

12-02: Scattershot's debut EP, "Extrasexual Behavior", is self-released. It features guest performances by experimental guitarist Scott Fields, members of the Youngblood Brass Band, and saxophonists John Keech and Anders Svanoe, as well as the talents of drummers Rick Flowers and Craig Walkner, bassist Todd Hill and guitarist Dan Venne.

Some reviews of the 'Extrasexual Behavior' EP:

"[Scattershot] works a retro groove thing with real intelligence... Reminiscent of Herbie Hancock's earliest flirtations with funk... Smolders and burns with a controlled intensity... Beyond interesting..." - Tom Laskin, The Isthmus

"A splurge of raving, rapid-fire instrumentals...intense, skillful songs." -The Daily Cardinal