Ben Johnston, born March 15, 1926, and passed away on July 21, 2019, was a visionary American composer who left an indelible mark on the world of contemporary classical music with his exploration of microtonal tuning systems. Trained by notable figures such as Darius Milhaud and Harry Partch, Johnston was deeply influenced by the latter's theories on just intonation – an ancient tuning system that divides the octave into intervals based on the pure ratios of small whole numbers. Johnston's work often features the extended use of just intonation, which can be heard in his profound and complex string quartet series.

Johnston's legacy is powerfully captured in his series of ten string quartets, which not only challenge the traditional tuning systems but also the technical and expressive capabilities of the performers. Notable releases such as "Ben Johnston: String Quartets Nos. 6, 7, & 8" and "Ben Johnston: String Quartets Nos. 1, 5 & 10" exhibit his mastery in merging the structural rigor of serialism with the purity of just intonation. The body of his work, as exemplified by "Ben Johnston: Ponder Nothing" and his own arrangement of "Amazing Grace," showcases his unique blend of American folk music traditions with avant-garde techniques, creating compositions of rich harmonic complexity and emotive depth. Ben Johnston's contributions have expanded the horizons of musical language, and his innovative string quartets continue to be a source of fascination and inspiration for musicians and composers around the globe.

Genres

American Contemporary Classical

Xenharmonic

Latest Release

Amazing Grace

Ben Johnston

Ep - 6 Tracks - Released September 2, 2022