Earle Brown was a highly influential American composer and artist who played a significant role in the development of experimental music in the mid-20th century. Brown was known for his unique approach to composition, which he called open form. This approach was characterized by a rejection of traditional musical notation and a focus on improvisation and chance operations. Brown's work was highly influential in the development of the New York School of composers, which included luminaries such as John Cage and Morton Feldman. One of Brown's most important contributions to the world of music was his development of graphic notation. This approach to musical notation allowed for a greater degree of flexibility and interpretation in performance, and was a key element of Brown's open form compositions. Brown's graphic scores were often highly abstract and visually striking, and required a high degree of skill and creativity on the part of the performer. In addition to his work as a composer, Brown was also an accomplished visual artist. His paintings and drawings were characterized by a bold, abstract style that was highly influenced by the work of the Abstract Expressionists. Brown's art often explored themes of chance and improvisation, and was closely connected to his musical work. Despite his significant contributions to the world of music, Brown's work remains relatively underappreciated today. However, his legacy lives on through the many composers and performers who continue to be inspired by his innovative approach to composition.
Earle Brown, open form, experimental music, graphic notation, New York School, composer, artist, chance operations, improvisation
CITATION : "Brandon Murphy. 'Earle Brown.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=341998 (Accessed on July 16, 2025)"
Earle Brown (1926-2002) was an influential American artist and composer. He developed his own distinctive style which he called 'open form composition'. This style was an attempt to transcend traditional musical notation and reject established musical conceptions of the time. His most important works include Four Systems (1954–56) which used four layers of improvisation, October (1952) and Verge (1953-58). He also wrote chapters for John Cage's classic book 'Silence: Lectures and Writings'. Brown was highly respected by his peers and contributed to the foundation of the New York School.
Modernism, Open-Form Composition, Avant-Garde.
— Mei Wang
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