Allen Strange

American composer, electronic musician and violin player. Born Calexico, CA, 26 June 1943; died Bainbridge Island, WA, 20 February 2008. A student of Pauline Oliveros at USCD, Strange was perhaps best known for authoring the book "Electronic Music - Systems, Techniques, and Controls". First published in 1972, it was an essential handbook of electronic music creation and later republished in 1985 in an expanded edition. With his wife Patricia Strange he also compiled the book "The Contemporary Violin - Extended Performance Techniques" in 2001. Although active as a performer, little of his music was published on recordings. Among the ensembles he performed with were the group Biome and The Electric Weasel Ensemble. Biome was composed of Allen and Pat along with Frank McCarty and Marilyn McCarty playing EMS synthesizers - one of the first touring electronic music groups. They were often joined by William Trimble. The Electric Weasel Ensemble saw Allen in collaboration with synthesizer pioneer Donald Buchla among others. Allen Strange taught at San Jose University for many years, and retired with his wife Patricia to Bainbridge Island, Washington in 2002.