Mark Kirschenmann
Lecturer II / Adjunct Asst. Professor
RC Department: Music
sonikman@umich.edu
http://sonikman.com
Office: 134 Greene
Mark Kirschenmann, PhD, whose pioneering live electric trumpet performances are internationally acclaimed, is a composer, performer and scholar of creative improvisation. He is also the creative force behind the band E3Q (blockmrecords.org), an eclectic jazz-influenced trio with his wife, cellist Katri Ervamaa and percussionist Michael Gould. Most recently, he released the solo album entitled This Electric Trumpet (sonikmannrecords.com), recorded with the Nashville-based electronica duo Sub-ID (BFF, 1320records.com), and appeared with pianist Thollem McDonas, bassist Henry Grimes, flutist Nicole Mitchell, cornetist Rob Mazurek’s Sao Paulo Underground, saxophonists Oliver Lake and Arthur Blythe, and pianist Iiro Rantala of Trio Töykeät.
As a composer and writer, Mark explores the confluence of composition and improvisation. He has published articles on Messiaen’s use of improvisation as a compositional technique, and on new approaches to melodic jazz improvisation. He is on the faculty at the University of Michigan, where he shares his time between the School of Music (Jazz) and the Residential College, a liberal arts living-learning community. He also directs UM’s Creative Arts Orchestra, an innovative, creative improvisation ensemble, and the Michigan Youth Jazz Ensemble. Mark holds PhD degrees in composition and music theory from the University of Michigan, and lives in Ann Arbor, MI with his wife and their three children.
Recent Courses
Electronic Music: Past, Present and Future
Musical Improvisation
Creative Musicianship
Selected Articles
“‘Towards a Conception of Thematic Improvisation: A New Look at Lee Morgan’s “Ceora”
“Olivier Messiaen as Composer-Improviser. An analysis of “Mass of the Pentecost” for solo organ.
Books Published
Recordings
“This Bionic Trumpet” – forthcoming
“This Electric Trumpet” – solo
“Songbook One” – E3Q
“BFF” – Sub-ID