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Michael Montes

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Michael Montes (born March 25, 1958) is an American composer.

Life and career

Montes was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Anne (née Pryor), an American nurse and Mario Montes, a Peruvian doctor who came to the USA in the early fifties. The family eventually settled in idyllic Eden, NY where budding poetic dreamers could fill their days with pastoral pleasures and 1970's psychedelic music.[1]

In these heady circumstances he began teaching himself to play the piano at age seven, quit in rage and frustration, returned feverishly at age thirteen and later dropped out of medical school in order to pursue composition as his life's work.

As a child his first film music experience occurred while watching the Jules Verne classic Mysterious Island. Years later he discovered that Bernard Herrmann had composed the score.

Later on, Pink Floyd became an influence, specifically their innovative production techniques and use of hallucinatory textures.

While studying at Bard College[1] he joined the chamber choir that specialized in the works of Renaissance composer Josquin des Prez. Here he began to gain a much deeper understanding of contrapuntal technique.

After school he steeped himself in the world of Brian Eno, tape loops and musique concrète while working with modern dance troupe Floorplay.

Moving to New York City he landed an assistant's position at the then fledgling Elias Music.[2] Within a short space of time he began an extended period of composing in every possible genre for television commercials, experimenting with sound design and collecting various CLIO and AICP awards.[3]

In the late 80s he was brought in to work with Aimee Mann's band 'Til Tuesday as keyboardist for their album Everything's Different Now and subsequent tour.[4]

He then began the Zoar project, a series of dark atmospheric albums. The debut album, Cassandra, was released in 1997 on the Philip Glass label Point Music. In the Bloodlit Dark and Clouds Without Water were released on the Middle Pillar Presents label and feature guest musicians: Brendan Perry, Matt Johnson, Jennifer Charles, Tony Levin and Julie Comparini.

In 1995 he opened the now legendary commercial music company, Sacred Noise[5] and is considered one of the top composers in the field.

He began a collaboration with noted filmmaker Bill Morrison, scoring his films Ghost Trip (2001) and Trinity (2002).[6][7]

Subsequently he has composed scores for numerous films including Joan Stein's Oscar® nominated One Day Crossing, Alexander Olch's The Windmill Movie and Michael Tully's Ping Pong Summer.[8][9][10]

In 2003 he conceived and produced Erik Friedlander's breakthrough solo album Maldoror.[11]

Allan Kozinn of The New York Times called his String Quartet No. 2 performed by NY string quartet Ethel, "an experiment in intensity...a forceful wave of sound."[12]

He is the composer of choice for the TED Conference, The AICP Show and the World Science Festival.

His latest personal albums are The Earlier Time (2011) and Persona Ficta (2016).

Favorite authors include Charles Bowden, John Berger, Henry Miller and Cormac McCarthy.[1]

He lives in New York City with his son Mario.[1]

Filmography

  • Always Shine (2016)
  • To Die or to Dream (short) (2015)
  • King Georges (documentary) (2015)
  • Applesauce (2015)
  • Wild Canaries (2014)
  • Ping Pong Summer (2014)
  • 35 Year Old Man (short) (2012)
  • Welcome to the Machine (documentary) (2012)
  • Danland (documentary) (2012)
  • Septien (2011)
  • Consent (2010)
  • Prescott Place (short) (2010)
  • Private Party (short) (2009)
  • The Windmill Movie (documentary) (2008)
  • Kung Fu Granny (short) (2008)
  • Slaying Goliath (documentary) (2008)
  • Able Danger (2008)
  • Red Dog. Scooter. Applesauce. (2006)
  • The Lovers (short) (2006)
  • 10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America: Gold Rush (TV series documentary) (2006)
  • Solidarity. (short) (2005)
  • Live at Five (short) (2005)
  • A Perfect Fit (2005)
  • City Minutes (short) (2005)
  • America Brown (2004)
  • Belle (short) (2004)
  • Sunset Town (short) (2003)
  • Trinity (short) (2002)
  • Secrets of the Dead (TV series documentary) (2002–2011)
  • One Day Crossing (short) (2001)
  • Majestic (video game) (2001)
  • Ghost Trip (short) (2001)
  • Remembering Marshall: Thirty Years Later (TV documentary) (2000)
  • Whipped (2000)
  • Cusp (short) (2000)
  • I Remember (short) (1999)
  • The Headhunter's Sister (1997)
  • MugShot (1996)
  • Covert Action (1988)
  • Firehouse (1987)
  • Hangmen (1987)
  • Pumping Iron II: The Women (1985)

Discography

Solo

  • Wild Canaries (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2015)
  • Ping Pong Summer (Original Motion Picture Score) (2014)
  • Welcome to the Machine (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2014)
  • Danland (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2012)
  • The Earlier Time (2011)
  • Septien (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2011)
  • Filmscores (2010)
  • Chamber Works (2009)
  • Piano at Dusk (2009)
  • Such Siren Worlds (2008)

Zoar

References

  1. ^ a b c d Michael Montes Bio
  2. ^ Michael Montes joins JSM Music in New York, exiting Elias Assoc.
  3. ^ The Art & Technique of the American Television Commercial
  4. ^ 'Til Tuesday - AllMusic
  5. ^ Sacred Noise
  6. ^ Ghost Trip (2001) - IMDb
  7. ^ Trinity (2002) - IMDb
  8. ^ One Day Crossing (2001) - IMDb
  9. ^ The Windmill Movie (2008) - IMDb
  10. ^ Ping Pong Summer (2014) - IMDb
  11. ^ Maldoror Home Page
  12. ^ Kozinn, Allan MUSIC REVIEW; A Rock Band's Effects In a String Quartet Sound
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