Ben Richter


Ben Richter is an American composer, accordionist, and director of Ghost Ensemble, an experimental chamber ensemble based in New York.

Biography

Ben Richter was born in the United States in 1986. Specializing in microtonal accordion performance, he composes chamber music that explores subtle gestures, the interactions of gradual processes, modes of awareness, and Deep Listening. He has collaborated with Pauline Oliveros, Phill Niblock, Carmina Escobar, SEM Ensemble, Nieuw Ensemble, and The Dresden Dolls, among others. He teaches at CalArts and holds an M.M. in music from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and a B.A. from Bard College, where he studied with Kyle Gann, Joan Tower, and George Tsontakis and privately with Pauline Oliveros. In 2012, he founded Ghost Ensemble, which frequently performs his music and that of other living composers.

Selected compositions

Richter's works include:Healing Ghost/Destroying Angel, a 60-minute diptych chamber work for Ghost Ensemble.Farther Reaches, a slowly building orchestra work exploring timbral shifts and constant portamento movement.Rivulose, piano concerto featured at Ostrava Days 2015 and on Czech Radio.Wind People, an acoustic chamber work for Ghost Ensemble combining elements of ambient drone, doom metal, and classical music.Panthalassa: Dream Music of the Once and Future Ocean, a 46-minute immersive work for just intonation accordion.Tides of the Wolf, an opera collaboration with novelist Edie Meidav and vocalist Carmina Escobar.Rewild, a 50-minute ecological work for Ghost Ensemble.

Discography

as Ben Richter

  • Aurogeny - CD
  • Panthalassa: Dream Music of the Once and Future Ocean - CD

with Ghost Ensemble

  • Rewild - CD, including Richter's Rewild
  • Mountain Air - CD
  • We Who Walk Again - LP, including Richter's Wind People
  • Lightbulb Ensemble & Ghost Ensemble Live at Pioneer Works, including Richter's ''Healing Ghost''

with [The Dresden Dolls]