Glenn Branca

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.