In his solo works for electro-acoustic hammer dulcimer Dan Joseph constructs quiet, contemplative soundscapes that slowly unfold over the course of 45-minutes to one-hour. With roots in early minimalism, ambient music and acoustic ecology, these long-form "journeys" combine composed elements, often in the form of a fixed melodic pattern, with extensive improvisation while exploring the dulcimer's rich harmonic properties. Using a mix of traditional and experimental (extended) techniques in combination with his self-designed laptop-based processing system, Dan gives this ancient instrument an entirely new and contemporary identity.

Dan Joseph is a free-lance composer based in New York City. He began his career as a drummer in the vibrant punk scene of his native Washington, DC. During the late 1980s, he was active in the experimental cassette music underground, producing ambient-industrial works for independent labels in the U.S. and abroad. He spent the 90s in California where he completed his academic work at CalArts and Mills College. His principal teachers included Pauline Oliveros, Alvin Curran, Mel Powell and Terry Riley. Embracing the musical multiplicity of our time, Dan works simultaneously in a variety of media and contexts, including instrumental chamber music, free improvisation, and various forms of electronica and sound art. Since the late 1990s, the hammer dulcimer has been the primary vehicle for his music, and he is active as a performer with his own chamber ensemble, The Dan Joseph Ensemble, as well as in various improvisational collaborations and as a soloist.

See photos from the concert.