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Glenn Branca (October 6, 1948, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA - d. May 13th, 2018) was an American composer who studied performing arts at Emerson College in Boston. After graduation, he formed two bands - Theoretical Girls in 1977 with Jeffrey Lohn, and later, The Static.

In the eighties, his compositions for the Glenn Branca Ensemble included the several symphonies for which he was best known. Branca's compositions centered around multiple guitars - four or more, heavily amplified - augmented by a rock-based rhythm section of drums and bass. In later works, the composer began adding other instruments, including mallet guitar, keyboards, and occasionally a second drummer. Branca's minimalist compositions frequently required unusual guitar tunings.

ALBUMS


Glenn Branca
The Third Ascension
2019
Branca*
Symphony No. 13 (Hallucination City) For 100 Guitars
2016
Glenn Branca
Audio Zine #1
2013, Cass, C60, Staaltape
Branca*
Symphony No. 7 (For Orchestra): Live In Graz
2010, CD, Album, Systems Neutralizers
Branca*
The Ascension: The Sequel
2010, CD, Album, Systems Neutralizers, ,
Avantgarde/Experimental
Branca*
Indeterminate Activity Of Resultant Masses
2006, CD, Album, Atavistic
Glenn Branca And Tony Oursler
Empty Blue
2000
Branca*
Selections From The Symphonies (For Electric Guitars)
1997, CD, Comp, Atavistic
Glenn Branca
Symphony No. 9 (L'eve Future)
1995, CD, Single, Promo, Point Music
Glenn Branca
Symphony No. 9 EPK (electronic press kit)
1995, VHS, Advance, VHS, Point Music
Branca*
Symphony No. 5 (Describing Planes Of An Expanding Hypersphere)
1995, ,
Avantgarde
Glenn Branca
Symphony No. 9 (L'Eve Future)
1995, CD, ,
Contemporary
Branca*
Songs '77-'79
1995, ,
Noise/Art Rock/No Wave/Avantgarde
Branca*
Symphony Nos. 8 & 10 (The Mysteries)
1994
Branca*
The World Upside Down (A Ballet For Orchestra In 7 Movements)
1992, ,
Post-Modern
Branca* Featuring Z'ev
Symphony No. 2 (The Peak Of The Sacred)
1992, ,
Modern Classical/Experimental/Ambient
Branca*
Symphony No. 6 (Devil Choirs At The Gates Of Heaven)
1989, ,
Avantgarde/Experimental
Glenn Branca
Edmond
1986, 12", Schauspiel Staatstheater Stuttgart, ,
Minimal/Avantgarde/Experimental
Glenn Branca
Acoustic Phenomena
1983, 7", Single, Kunsthalle Bern
Glenn Branca
Symphony No. 1 (Tonal Plexus)
1983, ,
Modern Classical/Experimental
Branca*
Symphony No. 3 (Gloria) (Music For The First 127 Intervals Of The Harmonic Series)
1983, ,
Contemporary/Experimental/Avantgarde
Glenn Branca / John Giorno
Who You Staring At?
1982, LP, Giorno Poetry Systems, ,
Art Rock/Avantgarde/Experimental
Glenn Branca
The Ascension
1981
Glenn Branca
Lesson No. 1
1980, ,
Noise/Experimental/Symphonic Rock/Contemporary/No Wave
Y Pants
Y Pants
2017, ,
Art Rock/No Wave/Punk
Y Pants
Y Pants
1998, ,
New Wave/Punk/Art Rock
Wim Mertens
The Belly Of An Architect
1989
Y Pants
Little Music
1980, 7", EP, 99 Records (2), ,
Art Rock/No Wave
Z'EV
Heads & Tales
1996, CD, Album, Avant, ,
Industrial/Experimental
Theoretical Girls
Theoretical Girls
2002, CD, ,
No Wave
The Static
Theoretical Record
1979, ,
Art Rock/No Wave
Theoretical Girls
U.S. Millie / You Got Me
1978, 7", Theoretical Records
Glenn Branca
Symphony No.6 - Devil Choirs At The Gates Of Heaven (Live At The QEH 30-1-1988)
1988
Glenn Branca
Berlin 20.5.83, Metropol-Loft, 4.Symphonie
1983, 2xCass, Unofficial, Not On Label
Glenn Branca
Symphony No. 2
1982, Cass, P/Unofficial, Jetset Recordings (2)

APPEARANCES +


Glenn Branca
Ensemble - Live At Primavera Sound 2011
2011, 4xFile, MP3, Album, 256, Free Music Archive
Various
Punk 45: Kill The Hippies! Kill Yourself! The American Nation Destroys Its Young - Underground Punk In The United States Of America, 1973-1980 Vol. 1
2013, ,
Punk
Various
135 Grand Street New York 1979
2010, DVD, Soul Jazz Films, ,
Art Rock/Avantgarde/Experimental
Catherine Christer Hennix
The Electric Harpsichord
2010
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
2006
Various
No W... NOW! (A Musical Petition Against George W. Bush)
2004, CD, Comp, Passive Aggressive Records, ,
Experimental/Spoken Word/Free Improvisation
Branca Ensemble*
Symphony Nos. 8 & 10 – Live At The Kitchen
2003, DVD-V, NTSC, All, Atavistic, Music Video Distributors, ,
Modern Classical/Avantgarde
Various
New York Noise (Dance Music From The New York Underground 1978-1982)
2003, ,
Leftfield/Art Rock/Experimental/Disco/No Wave/Avantgarde
Various And Tomandandy
The Mothman Prophecies (Music From The Motion Picture)
2002, ,
Alternative Rock/Soundtrack/Space Rock/Downtempo/Score
Bang On A Can
Renegade Heaven
2000, CD, ,
Avantgarde/Experimental
Various
Harmony
1998, CD, Comp, Promo, Virgin, ,
Classical/Romantic
José Padilla
Café Del Mar (Volumen Cinco)
1998, ,
Future Jazz/Downtempo
John Cage
Man and Myth
1995, VHS, NTSC, Thin Air Video, ,
Electroacoustic/Contemporary/Experimental
Various
Cash Cow (The Best Of Giorno Poetry Systems 1965-1993)
1993, CD, Comp, Giorno Poetry Systems, East Side Digital, ,
Art Rock/Avantgarde/Electro/Experimental/Folk Rock/Spoken Word
Various
Singles (The Great New York Singles Scene)
1991, ,
New Wave/Power Pop/Punk/Garage Rock
Various
An Unholy Montage
1990, ,
Alternative Rock/Garage Rock/Rock & Roll/Indie Rock/Punk
Psychic Rally
20.4.1989
1989, Cass, Mixed, C60, Psychic Rally, ,
Industrial/Experimental
Various
The Devil's Jukebox
1989, ,
Alternative Rock/Hardcore/Noise/Indie Rock
Wim Mertens
The Belly Of An Architect
1987
Various
Chicago '82: A Dip in the Lake
1983, Cass, Les Disques Du Crépuscule, ,
Abstract/Experimental/Minimal/Avantgarde
Michael Byron
Tidal
1983, LP, Neutral Records (3)
Various
Volume 6 Numbers 2 & 3
1983, 2xCass, Comp, C10, Audio Arts, Audio Arts
Jules Baptiste / Red Decade
Native Dance
1982, 12", EP, Neutral Records (3)
Various
Live To Air (Artists' Sound Works)
1982, 3x Cassette C82, Dolby, Box Set, ,
Abstract/Spoken Word/Experimental/Poetry/Post-Punk/New Wave/Avantgarde/Sound Art
Various
Just Another Asshole
1981, ,
Alternative Rock/Minimal/Chanson/Spoken Word/Field Recording/Avantgarde/Art Rock/No Wave/Speech/Noise/Free Improvisation/Modern Classical/Lo-Fi/Experimental
Dan Graham, The Static
At Riverside Studios London
1979, ,
Speech/Avantgarde/Experimental
Various
Break It Up! (New York Art, Rock, Poetry And Noise 1956-2022)
2022, CD, Comp, Mojo Magazine, ,
Art Rock/Poetry
Various
Drag Marks
2022, 10xCass, Ltd, Num + Box, Slowscan
ARB*
Arbscenity
2022, Cass, Comp, Mixtape, WFMU, ,
Experimental/Punk/Post-Punk/Lo-Fi/Avantgarde/Spoken Word
Various
ROIR Post Punk Compilation
2012, 8xFile, MP3, Comp, 320, ROIR, ,
Post-Punk
Peter Van Hoesen
Ssg Special
2011, File, MP3, Mixed, 320, mnml ssgs, ,
Dark Ambient/Abstract/Drone/Minimal/Ambient
Various
14 Tracks: 1980s Art-Pop Infection
2010, 14xFile, MP3, Comp, 320, Boomkat, ,
Indie Rock/Post-Punk/New Wave/Art Rock/No Wave/Electro/Synth-pop/Experimental
Various
Festival Voor Nieuwe Muziek > Happy New Ears 2006
2006, CD, Comp, Gonzo Circus, ,
Abstract/IDM/Experimental/Ambient
Various
Yard Magazine Issue 2 CD Project
2005, CD, Comp, Promo, Speak Of The Devil Entertainment
Various
New York Noise Vol. 2 (Music From The New York Underground 1977-1984)
2005
Various
Open Ends: Musical Exploration In New York - 1960 To 2000
2000, CD, Comp, Museum Music, ,
Alternative Rock/Indie Rock/Punk/Hip Hop/Downtempo/Experimental
Various
Antena Krzyku vs. Radar Krzyku
2000, CD, Smplr, Rockers Publishing, Antena Krzyku, ,
Garage Rock/Free Jazz/Punk/Avantgarde/New Wave/Avant-garde Jazz/Hardcore
Various
CD Connection
1997, CD, Comp, New Arts Program
Various
Out Of Their Mouths
1996, 2xCD, Comp, Atavistic
Various
Seething-ID, A Blast First Complication
1995, CD, Comp, Blast First
Various
Sonic Youth And Friends ..
1995, Cass, Comp, Pro, Geffen Records, ,
Alternative Rock/Experimental/Avantgarde
Various
PGD Alternative Video Compilation June / July
1995, VHS, Comp, Promo, NTSC, PolyGram Group Distribution
Various
Century XXI: USA 2 - Electric / Acoustic
1994, CD, Comp, New Tone Records, New Tone Records, ,
Post-Modern/Avant-garde Jazz/Contemporary Jazz/Experimental/Contemporary
Various
The Entire Population Of China
1992
Various
10 ROIR Years
1990, Cass, Comp, C80, ROIR, ,
Punk/Hardcore/Modern/Alternative Rock
Wim Mertens
The Belly Of An Architect
1987
Various
Tellus #10 - All Guitars!
1985, Cassette C70, Dolby, White Tape, ,
Alternative Rock/Post-Punk/Art Rock/Free Improvisation/Avant-garde Jazz/Experimental
Various
Tellus #1
1983, Cass, Album, Comp, Tellus
Various
Performance - New York City
VHS, NTSC, Ste, Toei Video
Various
1981
2004, 9xCDr, Comp, Unofficial + CDr, Comp + 251xFile, MP, Not On Label, ,
Post-Punk/Avantgarde/Art Rock/Power Pop/Psychedelic Rock/Lo-Fi/Experimental/Punk
Various
Café Del Mar - Volume Five
,
Future Jazz/Downtempo