Herbert Brun
"I had to find some way to affectionately liberate myself from myself, nevertheless still distinguishing myself from and in a society which I don't find yet desirable."
Herbert Brun created many of his compositions using algorithmic software he designed, reflecting an interest in creating processes rather than particular musical results. He worked with images as well as sound and he developed new synthesis techniques.
His awards and honors included an honorary doctorate from the University of Frankfurt and the Norbert Wiener medal from the American Society for Cybernetics. He taught for many years at universities around the world, and he wrote and spoke incisively on the social and political significance of composition and on the tendencies of language to preempt thought.
For many years, Herbert Brun taught at the University of Illinois at Champaign / Urbana, at first working with Lejaren Hiller. He remained active as a composer, computer artist, and professor, until his death in 2001.
Available CDs
Photo by Yehuda Yannay
