David Borden papers

David Russel Borden (b. 1938, 25 December), an American minimalistic composer of electronic music, keyboard player, and Cornell University Emeritus of Music Department, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Eastman School of Music and Harvard University and was a Fulbright student at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. His first composition teachers were Jimmy Giuffre and Jaki Byard. In 1969, he founded the Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Co. (disbanded in 1978), the first all-synthesizer ensemble, with the support of Robert Moog and his Modular Synthesizer systems and MiniMoog instruments. He continued creating and performing solo compositions. In 1981, he created music for Amplified Keyboard Instruments. The twelve-part cycle of pieces for synthesizers, acoustic instruments, and voice, called “The Continuing Story of Counterpoint” was labored for over 11 years and has been called the Goldberg Variations of minimalism. His work is related to the minimalistic style of Philip Glass and Steve Reich. He composed part of the soundtrack for The Exorcist, 1973, and other films. His music is available on the Cuneiform, New World Records, Lameduck and Arbiter labels. He is the founder and retired director of the Digital Music Program (later the Cornell Electroacoustic Music Center). He is married to Rebecca Goldin and lives in Ithaca, NY. He also collaborates and performs with his son, Gabriel Borden and stepson, Sam Godin.