Barry Seroff

Bio

At 6, I banged the low keys of my mother’s piano and turned the lights on and off as my friend tinkled the highest keys. We were making a thunderstorm.

The piano was promptly sold.

In high school I discovered John Cage’s number pieces and sat in awe of the silence, listening intently as the rattle of my air conditioner became the music.

I did not understand, while playing the music for a friend, why he looked at me with bewilderment.

At Queens College as an undergraduate, I wrote a wind quintet that was too difficult for the young, inexperienced players. The climax wheeled out of control, as the players tried to keep up in a frenzy. It was wonderful.

In the 2000’s, my work would be premiered then fade out of existence. Inspired, I wrote music for improvisers that was designed to be played only once, capturing the ephemeral nature of that form. It is forgotten, as designed.

With lofty intent and stars in my eyes, I released a large scale piece called ‘Democracy’ on Navona records. I found myself in great debt, and few were interested in the piece.

Democracy left me bankrupt. In the 2010’s my marriage came to a disastrous end, my mind broke under the weight of bi-polar disorder, and my alcoholism drove me to commit acts I never dreamed I was capable of. As life tends to go, this led to sobriety, a new partner, and inconceivable joy.

It is 2026 and we are all still here. I hope you are reading this anticipating music, and I hope that music brings you to a better place.