Daniel John Plonsey
Biography
(brief)
Born September 1, 1958 (Labor Day)
Cleveland, Ohio
Presently living in
El
Cerrito, California
<--- Photo by Peter Hinds
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Daniel John Plonsey (brief) |
Dan Plonsey was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in Cleveland Heights. He has lived in California for 20 years, and in El Cerrito for 10.
Since 1978, he has written more than 200 works for large and small ensembles. Recent commissions have come from Bang on a Can People's Commissioning Fund, the Berkeley Symphony, and New Music Works in Santa Cruz; although Plonsey prefers to write for his own ensembles.
In recent years, Plonsey has written primarily for large (8-20 person) ensembles of unspecified instrumentation; for ensembles of multiple (3-13) saxophones; and for chamber opera. He has recently begun a series of concerti for "guitar and strange ensemble," the first of which being What Leave Behind for Fred Frith and Toychestra.
Inspired by musicians of many times and places, but perhaps most especially by Sun Ra and Charles Ives, most of Plonsey's compositions embody a conflict of two ideas -- one sensible and one absurd -- set in motion together or against one another. Other compositions, more surreal by nature, required the invention of whole imaginary worlds. He considers his works a celebration of being out of step with nearly everything. ``My music fails to meet the rigid standards of jazz, classical, or world music, as set by the respective musical establishments. It draws upon all of my weaknesses as much as upon my strengths.''
Plonsey performs his own music and music of others frequently in the Bay Area and beyond in a wide variety of contexts, including, most recently, Anthony Braxton's tentet (a DVD of 6 hours of music to be released in 2005); John Shiurba's 5x5; TriAxium West (a cooperative group devoted to the music of Anthony Braxton); John Schott's Diglossia ensemble; Ben Goldberg's Brainchild; and Eugene Chadbourne's Insect & Western ensembles.
In the more distant past, Plonsey was known as the co-founder of two now-defunct composers' collectives (New Haven's Sheep's Clothing and the Bay Area's Composers' Cafeteria, the journal Freeway (and co-editor), and the weekly Beanbender's Creative Music Concert Series in Berkeley (weekly from March, 1995-1999, ongoing occasionally).
Plonsey also teaches math at San Lorenzo High, and spends a lot of time with his wife, Mantra, and their two sons, Cleveland and Mischa.
For a lengthier bio, complete with various autobiographical and artistic statements, and further links to a full discography, samples of artwork, essays, etc., see:
http://www.plonsey.com/plonsey/plonsey_bio.html