Mark Applebaum


Mark Applebaum is an American composer and full professor of music composition and theory at Stanford University. He received his PhD in music composition from the University of California, San Diego where he studied with Brian Ferneyhough, Joji Yuasa, Rand Steiger, and Roger Reynolds. Prior to Stanford, Applebaum taught at UCSD, Mississippi State University, and Carleton College. He has received commissions from Betty Freeman, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, the Fromm Foundation, the Kronos Quartet, the Paul Dresher Ensemble, Spoleto USA, the Vienna Modern Festival, Antwerp’s Champ D’Action, Festival ADEvantgarde in Munich, Zeitgeist, Manufacture, the St. Lawrence String Quartet, the Jerome Foundation, and the American Composers Forum.
Applebaum's solo, chamber, choral, orchestral, operatic, and electro-acoustic work has been performed through North and South America, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia. His music has been described as mercurial, high detailed, discipline, and exacting, but also features improvisational and whimsical aspects. His inspiration has been drawn from jazz pioneers and maverick composers such as Nancarrow and Partch, who found it necessary to use or invent unusual instruments to realize their artistic visions.
As a jazz pianist, Applebaum has performed around the world, including a solo recital in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso that was sponsored by the American Embassy. In 1994 he received the jazz prize of the Southern California Jazz Society.

Electroacoustic instruments

In 1990 Applebaum began building unique instruments called electroacoustic instruments. One of these instruments Applebaum refers to as the "Mouseketier" consists of threaded rods, nails, combs, doorstops, springs, squeaky wheels, ratchets, and a toilet tank flotation bulb. His first instrument, the “Mousetrap,” is used in Mousetrap Music which features a recording of sound-sculpture improvisations. The objects on the instruments are plucked, scratched, bowed, and modified by a battery of live electronics.

Visual and theatrical compositions

Many of Applebaum's compositions are composed of visual and theatrical elements; pieces like Echolalia requires the rapid execution of 22 dadaist rituals. Straitjacket includes performers drawing on amplified easels; Aphasia requires its performer to synchronize choreographed hand gestures to tape.

Selected works

Orchestral