Barry Seroff simple website

Guitar

Flute

Shakuhachi

Composition

Improvisation

Guitar

Flute

Shakuhachi

Composition

Improvisation

Barry Seroff

A serene landscape featuring a lake, mountains, and a clear blue sky, reflecting tranquility and natural beauty.

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 the Aaron Copland School of Music, 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, grand premieres would come and go. Spontaneous music occurred with luminaries known and unknown to sparse audiences. I joined the progressive rock group Edensong as the flautist, with whom I perform to this day. With lofty intent and stars in my eyes, I released a large scale piece called ‘Democracy’ on Navona records. Few were paying attention, but those that did declared it a masterpiece.

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. A complete halt in compositional output occurred, replaced by songs designed to process the pain and re-form my shattered psyche. This act played no small part in finding sobriety, a new partner, and inconceivable joy.

It is 2026 and we are all still here. My large ensemble improvised pieces are recieving attention. A re-release of Democracy and an album of songs written in the last 15 years are on the horizon. I hope you are reading this anticipating music, and I hope that music brings you to a better place.