Zack D. Browning
Associate Professor of Composition-Theory
B.M. (composition), Florida State University; M.M., D.M.A.(composition), University of Illinois
Zack Browning’s research with algorithmic composition has focused on the structural applications of magic squares to musical form and on the timbral possibilities of computer-generated sounds produced by GACSS (Genetic Algorithms in Composition and Sound Synthesis) being combined with instrumental timbres. GACSS is an original software package written in C/C++, which serves as a sound generation and compositional tool for music composition.
Professor Browning has created a series of experimental music compositions that incorporate magic squares as compositional models. Eight of the 10 works in this series were released in November 2001 on the Capstone Records Compact Disc (CD), Banjaxed. Compositions from Banjaxed have been performed in more than 80 venues in Canada, England, Ireland, South Korea, Sweden and the USA, and generated 16 commissions for the 1995-02 period. Reviews of these compositions have appeared in the New York Times, The Irish Times and The Computer Music Journal. Professor Browning’s music has also been published by Manduca Music Publications, Elk Music Publications, and Brixton Publications, and is recorded on Calcante Recordings, Capstone Records, Coronet Records and Veriatza Records.
His compositions have been performed in such venues as the Asian Contemporary Music Festival (Seoul), Atlanta New Music Festival, Bang On A Can (New York City), Bonk (Tampa), Composer's Choice Festival (Dublin), ISCM Festival (Miami), Le Minotaur (Ontario), Sonorities Festival (Belfast), and the Skinneskatteberg Festival of Electro-acoustic Music (Sweden). Professor Browning has received the Arnold O. Beckman Research Award, a 2001 Illinois Arts Council Composer Fellowship and a 2002 Chamber Music America Commission for the composition Back Speed Double Circuit for the Bang On A Can All-Stars and computer-generated tape.
In addition to teaching music theory courses, Browning’s theoretical interests are reflected in recent specialized courses that he has offered at the University of Illinois. They include “Golden Section Proportions and the Analysis of Popular Music,” “Contemporary Art Music Composition for Popular Music Instruments: The Documentation of Cool,” and “The Influence of Funk Drumset Patterns on Selected Contemporary Art Music Compositions.” His recent lecture at the University of South Florida, titled “The Definition of Beauty: Eminem and Twinkies,” examined the music of rap artist Eminem and its structural relation to recent advertisements for commercial products.