Jason Barabba

Composer Jason V. Barabba’s (b. 1970) work has been called “deeply meditative” by Fanfare magazine, and his music has been performed by such diverse musicians as the Arneis Quartet, Janaki String Trio, clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, the California E.A.R. Unit, and Chicago’s Quintet Attacca. Reviews of the 2011 premiere of Barabba’s work Diddling: Considered as One of the Exact Sciences said it was “uproariously hilarious, Barabba’s “Diddling” was plain evidence of this composer’s tremendous talent and ability to evoke laughter from the listener” not an easy task.”

Barabba is General Director of Synchromy, a Los Angeles composer’s collective, coming together with performers to present new music in collaboration with diverse artists in Southern California. The Crescenta Valley Weekly has called Synchromy “one of the most exciting new music projects in the Los Angeles area today.”

Barabba has frequently drawn on his love of literature for inspiration. He has created several works using texts by author Ursula K. Le Guin, including Say I Am Not Far Enough, and The Scarcity of Rhinos on the television, which set poems from her book Sixty Odd. His Three Meditations for Clarinet and Piano draws inspiration from her version of the Tao Te Ching. Of Barabba’s music, Le Guin said, “Some composers use words as raw material. Like Schubert or Vaughan-Williams, he collaborates with them…the texture of the music and the tension in it are wonderfully effective.”

After receiving a Bachelor’s degree at Occidental College, Barabba studied music composition at the University of Chicago, UC Irvine, and UCLA, studying under such teachers as Andrew Imbrie, John Eaton, David Lefkowitz, Richard Grayson, Christopher Dobrian and Alan Terricciano. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles. Recordings of Barabba’s music have been commercially released on the Yarlung Records, MMC Recordings and Navona Records labels.