John Schneider (born 1950) is a Grammy award-winning and 4-time Grammy nominated American classical guitarist. He performs in just intonation and various well-temperaments, including Pythagorean tuning, including works by Lou Harrison, LaMonte Young, John Cage, and Harry Partch. He often arranges pieces for guitar and other instruments such as harp or percussion.
Schneider was a professor of music at Los Angeles Pierce College, [1980-2020], hosts the KPFK weekly radio program "Global Village", is founder of MicroFest (1997âÂÂ), and founder of MicroFest Records.
He is also the founder and musical director of the PARTCH Ensemble, dedicated to the music of Harry Partch. With this ensemble, he won the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium for Partch: Plectra & Percussion Dances (Bridge Records, 2014). He owns two dozen copies of different instruments designed by Harry Partch as well as a collection of guitars with microtonal fretboards.
In 2015, he published a revised and enlarged edition of his book The Contemporary Guitar, which first appeared in 1985.
Bibliography
- âÂÂGlobal Guitar Music of Lou Harrison.â Mikrotöne: Small is Beautiful V, edited by ÃÂ. Castilla-ÃÂvila (Salzburg: Mackinverlag, 2024), 125âÂÂ134.
- âÂÂThe Well-Tuned Guitar.â 21st Century Guitar: Evolutions & Augmentations, edited by Richard Perks & John McGrath (New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2023), 9-23.
- âÂÂEssay: Ben Johnston.â Interviews with American Composers: Barney Childs in Conversation, edited by Virginia Anderson (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2022), 167âÂÂ169.
- HARRY PARTCH, 1942, MicroFest Records, 2022 [Grammyî Nominated: Best Album Notes]
- The Contemporary Guitar, Revised & Enlarged Edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2015
- âÂÂMagnus Andersson: Extreme GuitaristâÂÂPart 1,â Soundboard, Vol. 41, No.4 (2016)
- âÂÂMagnus Andersson: Extreme GuitaristâÂÂPart 2,â Soundboard, Vol. 42, No.1 (2016)
- âÂÂThe Microtonal Guitars of Harry Partch,â Soundboard Scholar #1, (2015).
- âÂÂTampering with Nature: Playing in Unequal Temperaments,â & âÂÂPure Magic: Composing & Performing in Just Intonation,â 1001 Microtones. Neumünster: Bockel-Verlag, 2014.
- âÂÂPartchâÂÂs Guitars,â Soundboard Scholar #1, (2015)
- âÂÂPartch: Re-Genesis of a Music,â Kongressbericht âÂÂMikrotonalität: Praxis & Utopie,â Stuttgart 2011. Mainz: Schott Verlag, 2014.
- âÂÂOrgan Transplants: Recreating PartchâÂÂs Chromelodeons,â Reed Organ Society Quarterly 2012, Vol. XXXI, No. 2.
- âÂÂAdam del Monte: Classical Duende,â Soundboard, Vol. XXXVII, No.3, (2011)
- âÂÂTim Brady: Electric,â Soundboard Vol XXXVI, No.3 (2010); pp. 71âÂÂ76.
- âÂÂBen Johnston at Eighty,â Schneider, J. (ed.). 1/1: The Journal of the Just Intonation Network 12, no. 3 (2007).
- âÂÂThe Persian Passion of Lily Afshar,â Classical Guitar [UK]. Vol. 23, No.7 (March, 2005); pp. 16âÂÂ19.
- âÂÂJust Lou Harrison,â Guitar Review #128, (New York,2004), pp. 13âÂÂ23.
- âÂÂJust Guitar,â Guitart International #6, April/June 2004; pp. 42âÂÂ50.
- âÂÂLou HarrisonâÂÂs Guitars,â Classical Guitar [UK]. Vol. 21, No.10 (June, 2003); pp. 20âÂÂ23.
- âÂÂRadio Soundboard (1978âÂÂ1997),â Soundboard Magazine,Volume XXVI, 1999 No.2
- âÂÂAdam del Monte: Duende in Bach and Albeniz,â Soundboard, Vol. XXV, No.4 (1997)
- âÂÂFine Tuning,â ACOUSTIC GUITAR. May/June, No.24 (1994); pp. 30âÂÂ38.
- âÂÂBringing Back Barstow,â GUITAR REVIEW. No.95 (Winter 1993); pp. 1âÂÂ14.
- âÂÂA History of the JUST GUITAR,â 1/1. Vol. VII, No.3 (1992); pp. 11âÂÂ15.
- âÂÂDavid Starobin at Forty,â GUITAR REVIEW No. 90, Summer 1992: pp. 18âÂÂ22.
- âÂÂTOD MACHOVER: Hypercomposer,â GUITAR REVIEW No. 86, Summer 1991.
- âÂÂThe Divine Giuliani,â Gendai Guitar [Tokyo] Winter 1990.
- âÂÂThe Divine Giuliani,â Soundboard. Vol. XVI, No.3 (1989); pp. 38âÂÂ48.
- âÂÂPierre Boulez: a conversation,â GUITAR REVIEW No. 75, 1988: pp. 28âÂÂ31.
- âÂÂPeter Maxwell Davies: a conversation,â GUITAR REVIEW No. 64, 1985.
- âÂÂAlois Hába,â Soundboard. Vol. XII, No.2 (1985); pp. 154âÂÂ158.
- âÂÂJulian Carrillo,â Soundboard. Vol. XII, No.1 (1985); pp. 36âÂÂ39.
- âÂÂIgor Stravinsky,â Soundboard. Vol. XI, No.2 (1984); pp. 152âÂÂ157.
- âÂÂSOUNDBOARD ON THE AIR,â Soundboard. Vol. XI, No.1 (1984); pp. 36âÂÂ39.
- âÂÂThe Guitar Works of Ned Rorem,â Soundboard. Vol. XI, No.1 (1984); pp. 28âÂÂ32.
- âÂÂWhere do you find the Music?,â Soundboard. Vol. X, No.4 (1983); pp. 376âÂÂ79.
- âÂÂHarry Partch,â Soundboard. Vol. X, No.3 (1983); pp. 260âÂÂ264.
- âÂÂBruno Bartolozzi,â Soundboard. Vol. X, No.2 (1983); pp. 138âÂÂ41.
- âÂÂPeter Maxwell Davies,â Soundboard. Vol. X, No.1 (1983); pp. 43âÂÂ45.
- âÂÂGuitar & Tape: New Horizons,â ASTA National Guitar Symposium 1981. New Jersey: American String Teacher's Ass. 1982.
- âÂÂThe Microtonal Guitar,â [Parts IâÂÂV] Guitar & Lute : Nos. 10 âÂÂ24, (1981âÂÂ82).
- âÂÂA Conversation with Ernst Krenek,â Soundboard. Vol. VIII, No.4 (1981); pp. 262âÂÂ65.
- âÂÂToru Takemitsu,â Soundboard. Vol. VIII, No.3 (1981); pp. 169âÂÂ71.
- âÂÂGoffredo Petrassi,â Soundboard. Vol. VIII, No.2 (1981); pp. 92âÂÂ94.
- âÂÂHans Werner Henze,â Soundboard. Vol. VII, No.4 (1980); pp. 173âÂÂ77.
- âÂÂ20th Century Guitar Music,â Soundboard. Vol. VII, No.4 (1980); pp. 175âÂÂ76.
- âÂÂPierre Boulez,â Soundboard. Vol. VII, No.3 (1980); pp. 126âÂÂ7.
- âÂÂ20th Century Guitar: The 2nd Golden Age,â Guitar & Lute : Nos. 10 & 12, (1979âÂÂ1980).
- âÂÂThe Contemporary Guitar,â Soundboard. Vol. VII, No.2 (1980); p. 69.
- âÂÂConversation with Julian Bream,â Soundboard Vol. VII, No.1(1979); pp. 108âÂÂ111.
- âÂÂThe WellâÂÂTempered Guitar,â Soundboard Vol. V, No.4 (1978); pp. 108âÂÂ111.
- âÂÂThe Rational Method of Tone Production,â ASTA National Guitar Symposium 1977. New Jersey: American String Teacher's Ass. 1978.
- âÂÂNew Instruments Through Frequency Division,â Contact. [London] No.15 (1976).
Discography
- SONIC VOYAGE: New Music for Guitar. El Maestro Records, 1981.
- Lou Harrison: Music for Guitar & Percussion Etcetera [Holland] KTC 1071, 1991.
- JUST WEST COAST : Microtonal Music for Guitar & Harp, Bridge Records BCD 9041, 1993.[chosen "CD of the Year" by CD Review in 1994 & Fanfare's âÂÂClassical Hall of Fameâ 2003]
- Sasha Matson : RANGE OF LIGHT, NEW ALBION RECORDS NA 092, 1997.
- John Cage ⢠LOU HARRISON ⢠HARRY PARTCH, Cambria Records - CAMBRIA 8806, 2000. [ASCAP Special Achievement Award]
- JUST GUITARS : Music by Harrison, Partch, Riley & Scholtz & Schneider, Bridge Records Bridge 9132, 2003.
- Johnny Reinhard : ODYSSEUS, Pitch Records P-2002-1, 2004.
- MUSIC OF CARLOS CHAVEZ (vol.3) Southwest Chamber Music, Cambria Records, (2005). Grammy nominations for âÂÂBest Classical Albumâ & âÂÂBest Small Ensembleâ & Latin Grammy nomination for âÂÂBest Classical AlbumâÂÂ
- MUSIC OF Carlos Chavez (vol.4) Southwest Chamber Music - solo guitar works + string quartets Cambria Records, (2006). Latin Grammy nomination for âÂÂBest Classical AlbumâÂÂ
- EAR GARDENS : American Festival of Microtonal Music. Music of Reinhard, Riley, Corner & Cage Pitch Records P-200209, 2006.
- ENCLOSURE 8 : Harry Partch. Castor & Pollux w/dancers with Partch, Innova Records DVD, 2007.
- Russel Steinberg & Daniel Pearl: "Stories from My Favorite Planet", www.DanielPearl.org, 2007.
- POR GITARO: Lou Harrison's Suites for Tuned Guitars, Mode Records, mode 195, 2008
- JOHN CAGE: 45' For A Speaker, Tiger Barb Records, 2008.
- William Kraft: Encounters, Cambria Records 1191, 2009. Latin Grammy nomination for âÂÂBest Classical AlbumâÂÂ
- Harry Partch: Bitter Music â Bridge Records 9349 A/B/C, 2011. Grammyî Award nomination for âÂÂBest Classical CompendiumâÂÂ
- COLD BLUE TWO: Polansky âÂÂEskimo LullabyâÂÂ, Cold Blue Music CB0036, 2012
- Ben Johnston: Ruminations - Setting of Rumi & Billie Holiday, MicroFest Records Mâ¢5, 2014
- Harry Partch: Plectra & Percussion Dances - Bridge Records 9432, 2014. Grammyî Award winner for "Best Classical Compendium" & Grammyî Award nomination for "Best Chamber Music Performance"
- JUST STRINGS: John Luther Adams & Lou Harrison - MicroFest Records, Mâ¢F 7, 2015
- BILL ALVES : Guitars & Gamelan - MicroFest Records, Mâ¢F 8, 2015
- HOPSCOTCH : The Industry Records, 2017 (voiceover)
- COLOR THEORY : Prism Sax Quartet/Partch/So Percussion - XAS 102, 2017
- Tom Johnson: PLUCKING - MicroFest Records, Mâ¢F 9, 2017
- JUST NATIONAL GUITAR : music of Lou Harrison, Terry Riley, et al. MicroFest Records Mâ¢F 12, 2019
- Harry Partch: SONATA DEMENTIA - Bridge Records 9525, 2019
- HARRY PARTCH, 1942 - MicroFest Records Mâ¢F 20, 2022. Grammyî Award nomination for Best Program Notes
References
External links
Radio Interviews