Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 19:35:51 -0400 (EDT) From: Chris Meloche *************************************** CHRIS MELOCHE (LONDON, ONT., CANADA) Chris Meloche (b. Windsor, Ont.,1957) is an independent composer and performer of electronic, electroacoustic and computer music and multi-media works. He began creating electroacoustic works in 1980. Although resources were limited, he was able to create intriguing soundscapes. He has persued independent studies and followed the work of such composers as Stockhausen, Reich, Cage, Berio, Riley, Feldman, Subotnick, and Hamel as well as the work of such artists as Throbbing Gristle, Can, Brian Eno and Tangerine Dream. In 1982, Meloche collaborated in the formation of the group M104 with Werner Albert. M104 released 3 independent cassette packages and played numerous live concerts, often as accompaniment to classic silent films (Nosferatu, Metropolis, Potemkin...). Since the demise of M104, he has continued to compose and perform solo material and contributed works for release in Canada and the U.K. Meloche has also worked on commissioned compositions featuring acoustic instruments (cello, double bass, trombone) in conjunction with synthesizers, electronic sound processing and interactive electronics. He has also been a proponent of "Radio Art" having diffused works such as "LINK": A Radio Music Performance Without Borders, "Loop2" - a 7 hour radiophonic installation work - and Philip Perkins' "Toronto Remote" performance. Recently he produced 2 releases by Canadian poets bill bissett and Karen MacCormack for Nightwood Editions as well as continuing to play live electroacoustic music concerts. International attention was gained with the presentation of "LINK" (produced with the assistance of a grant from the Media Arts Section of Canada Council) which was premiered at the Aeolian Hall (London) and broadcast on CHRW-FM (London). This event attracted international attention and led to interviews and features on Radio France International (Paris), Voice of America (Washington, DC), Radio Budapest (Hungary) and CFPL-TV (London). In January of 1990 his composition "Moscow Calling" received its international broadcast premiere on Radio Moscow, USSR. Meloche has also completed the projects "Ionospheric Soundwalk" (a composition featuring naturally occurring radio waves), "Private World: A Wireless Public Access Audio Installation" and the 6- hour radiophonic work "Recurring Dreams of the Urban Myth." His work has also gained more international attention in 1994 with the signing of a two CD recording contract with the FAX label of Frankfurt, Germany. In 1996, Silent Records (San Francisco) released "Distant Rituals". This 71 minute work was condensed from another 6-hour work composed for overnight radio broadcast. It was premiered in May 1995 on CHRW-FM (London, Ont.) and received its US broadcast premiere on KUCI (Irvine, CA) in August of that year. Chris Meloche's work has been supported by grants from the Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council. He is a founding member of the Canadian Electroacoustic Community and the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology. He is also the host of the weekly contemporary music radio programme WIRED FOR SOUND (on CHRW-FM, London). *****************************************