Philip Blackburn

Philip Blackburn (b.1962) is a British-American composer and environmental sound artist, President of Neuma Records (since 2020), former director of Innova Recordings, film-maker, writer, record producer, and designer. He was born in Cambridge and studied music there as a choral scholar at Clare College, University of Cambridge, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1985. Blackburn continued his education in the United States and got an MMus degree from the University of Iowa. After postgraduate studies in Iowa under Kenneth Gaburo, Philip received his Ph.D. degree in 1989. At the same time, he started working on the publication of Harry Partch archives. From 1991-2020, Blackburn worked at the American Composers Forum, where he ran the Innova label (producing over 650 albums) and organized various events: Sonic Circuits International Electronic Music Festival, Continental Harmony, and Bamboofest. He also produced a critically-acclaimed Harry Partch Enclosure Series at Innova Recordings in 1995–2007. Blackburn's book Enclosure Three: Harry Partch received an ASCAP Deems Taylor Award. His environmental works appeared at harbors, state fairs, forests, sewers, art galleries and concert venues. Philip Blackburn uses various innovative and DIY objects in his performances, including brainwave sensors, dowsing rods, balloon flutes, car horns, and wind-powered harps. Blackburn staged a multimedia hyper-opera The Sun Palace about Cragmor Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Colorado Springs, which later developed into a 60-minute indie film. The premiere took place at the New York's Anthology Film Archives. Blackburn has published articles on Vietnamese/Garifuna/Cuban music, the social dynamics of orchestral performance, and the use of sound in public art. He appeared on international TV/radio many times, such as BBC Radio 1, NPR, Minnesota Public Radio, Voice of Vietnam, KTCA, and Gannett News Service. In 2003, Philip became a Deep Listening Institute participant.