David Borden was educated at the Eastman School of Music and Harvard
University.
He was also a Fulbright student in Berlin, Germany, where he studied at
the Hochschule für Musik.
He founded Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Co. in 1969 with the
support of Robert Moog. The group became the world's first synthesizer
ensemble.
His 'The Continuing Story of Counterpoint,' a twelve-part cycle of
pieces for synthesizers, acoustic instruments and voice has been called
the 'Goldberg Variations of minimalism.' Four recent books have cited
and discussed his work. In keeping with his interdisciplinary approach
to his life and work, two of the books deal with American music
history, one with music technology and one with the paintings of George
Deem: America's Music in the Twentieth Century by Kyle Gann (Schirmer
Books, New York, 1997); America's Musical Life: A History by Richard
Crawford (W. W, Norton & Company, New York, London, 2001); Analog Days:
The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer by Trevor Pinch and
Frank Trocco (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts,
London, England, 2002); How to Paint a Vermeer by George Deem (Thames &
Hudson, N.Y., 2004). Borden's music is available on the Cuneiform, New
World Records, Lameduck and Arbiter labels.
David Borden has written music for various chamber and vocal ensembles.
He is also an accomplished jazz pianist. His first composition teachers
were jazz musicians Jimmy Giuffre and Jaki Byard. He collaborates and
performs with his son, Gabriel Borden and stepson, Sam Godin. He
resides in Ithaca, New York with his wife, Rebecca Godin.
He was the founder and Director of the Digital Music Program at Cornell
University.
