Steve Layton

From Sequenza21/NetNewMusic Wiki

Steve Layton (ASCAP) was born in Pasco, Washington, in 1956. His degrees are from The Evergreen State College (B.A.) and the University of Idaho (M.Mus.)

For the last twenty years he has lived and worked in Seattle, creating a kind of music that blurs the distinctions between "electronic" and "acoustic" art forms, as well as the notions of "traditional" and "experimental". The attempt is to invoke, alter, or dissolve questions of history, culture, even the "real" and "unreal", in the mind and ear of the listener. In his work, traditional and imaginary modern classical mix with electronic, historical, and world vernacular influences. His music operates on a number of different levels, making an often dense, but rich and colorful music.

"Traditional" and "avant-garde", "possible" and "impossible" music? To Layton, each piece reinvents (even if it is the first time) a World; through the past, in ways that could only happen here and now.

While his debt to such teachers as Greg Steinke, William Billingsley, Barney Childs, Pauline Oliveros, Morton Subotnick, Gordon Mumma, and Walter Aschaffenburg is great, Layton has always learned quite as much by paying happy attention to the music of every time and culture.

Besides commissions for works from many western-U.S. organizations, Layton has collaborated extensively with both dancers and video artists, and currently is very much involved with the development of new means of propagating contemporary art music via the world wide web. Much more of his work, including available scores, writings, art and CDs, may be accessed from his website, NIWO (http://www.niwo.com/steve/).