Faculty Profile

Jon Nelson

Title
Professor
Department
Composition Studies
College
College of Music

    

Education

PhD, Brandeis University, 1991.
Major: Music
Degree Specialization: Music Composition
Dissertation Title: Compositional Technique in Elliott Carter's Penthode: A Study in Phraseology and Formal Design and his Composition Entitled "Six Etudes Braves for Violoncello and Tape"
MFA, Brandeis University, 1988.
Major: Music
Degree Specialization: Music Composition and Theory
Dissertation Title: Chamber Symphony
BA, Bethel College, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1982.
Major: Music and Music Education, magna cum laude

Current Scheduled Teaching*

MUCP 3190.701, Advanced Composition II, Spring 2024
MUCP 6190.701, Doctoral Composition, Spring 2024
MUGC 6950.707, Doctoral Dissertation, Spring 2024
MUCP 4080.701, Secondary Composition II, Spring 2024
MUGC 5900.703, Special Problems, Spring 2024
MUCP 5690.001, Topics in Computer Music, Spring 2024
MUCP 4690.001, Topics in Computer Music Media, Spring 2024

* Texas Education Code 51.974 (HB 2504) requires each institution of higher education to make available to the public, a syllabus for undergraduate lecture courses offered for credit by the institution.

Previous Scheduled Teaching*

MUCP 3180.701, Advanced Composition I, Fall 2023
MUCP 5185.701, Concentration Composition, Fall 2023
MUGC 6950.707, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2023
MUGC 6950.734, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 8W2 2023
MUCP 4080.701, Secondary Composition II, Fall 2023
MUCP 6190.701, Doctoral Composition, Spring 2023
MUGC 6950.708, Doctoral Dissertation, Spring 2023
MUCP 3670.001, Introduction to Electroacoustic Music, Spring 2023 SPOT
MUGC 5950.702, Master's Thesis, Spring 2023
MUGC 6950.708, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2022
MUCP 3180.701, Advanced Composition I, Fall 2021 SPOT
MUCP 3190.701, Advanced Composition II, Fall 2021
MUCP 4180.701, Advanced Composition III, Fall 2021
MUGC 6950.708, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2021
MUCP 5190.709, Master's Composition, Fall 2021
MUCP 5910.700, Special Problems, Fall 2021 Syllabus
MUGC 5910.701, Special Problems, Fall 2021
MUCP 6200.701, Advanced Research in Computer Music, Spring 2021 SPOT
MUCP 6190.701, Doctoral Composition, Spring 2021 SPOT
MUCP 4080.701, Secondary Composition II, Spring 2021 SPOT
MUCP 5900.703, Special Problems, Spring 2021
MUCP 5690.001, Topics in Computer Music, Spring 2021 Syllabus SPOT
MUCP 4690.001, Topics in Computer Music Media, Spring 2021 Syllabus SPOT
MUCP 6190.701, Doctoral Composition, Fall 2020 SPOT
MUCP 5180.701, Secondary Composition, Fall 2020 SPOT
MUCP 5910.703, Special Problems, Fall 2020 Syllabus
MUGC 5900.703, Special Problems, Fall 2020
MUCP 6200.701, Advanced Research in Computer Music, Fall 2019
MUCP 5080.700, Composition Seminar, Fall 2019 Syllabus SPOT
MUCP 4180.701, Advanced Composition III, Fall 2018
MUCP 5180.701, Secondary Composition, Fall 2018
MUCP 4080.701, Secondary Composition II, Fall 2018
MUCP 5190.701, Master's Composition, Spring 2018
MUCP 4080.701, Secondary Composition II, Spring 2018
MUCP 5690.001, Topics in Electroacoustic Music, Spring 2018 SPOT
MUCP 4180.701, Advanced Composition III, Fall 2017
MUGC 6950.708, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2017
MUCP 6190.701, Doctoral Composition, Spring 2017
MUGC 6950.708, Doctoral Dissertation, Spring 2017
MUCP 5190.701, Master's Composition, Spring 2017
MUGC 5950.702, Master's Thesis, Spring 2017
MUCP 6190.701, Doctoral Composition, Fall 2016
MUGC 6950.708, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2016
MUGC 5950.702, Master's Thesis, Fall 2016
MUCP 6900.701, Special Problems, Summer 5W2 2016
MUCP 6190.701, Doctoral Composition, Spring 2016 SPOT
MUGC 6950.708, Doctoral Dissertation, Spring 2016
MUCP 5190.701, Master's Composition, Spring 2016 SPOT
MUGC 5950.702, Master's Thesis, Spring 2016
MUCP 5690.001, Topics in Electroacoustic Music, Spring 2016 SPOT
MUGC 6950.708, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2015
MUGC 5950.702, Master's Thesis, Fall 2015
MUCP 6200.701, Advanced Research in Computer Music, Spring 2015
MUGC 6950.708, Doctoral Dissertation, Spring 2015
MUGC 5950.702, Master's Thesis, Spring 2015
MUCP 6465.001, Topics in Contemporary Music, Spring 2015
MUGC 6950.708, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2014
MUCP 6200.701, Advanced Research in Computer Music, Spring 2014
MUGC 6950.708, Doctoral Dissertation, Spring 2014
MUGC 5950.702, Master's Thesis, Spring 2014
MUCP 5180.701, Secondary Composition, Spring 2014
MUCP 6200.701, Advanced Research in Computer Music, Fall 2013
MUCP 5080.700, Composition Seminar, Fall 2013
MUCP 5185.701, Concentration Composition, Fall 2013
MUGC 6950.708, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2013
MUCP 6195.701, Advanced Research in Composition, Spring 2013
MUCP 6200.701, Advanced Research in Computer Music, Spring 2013
MUCP 6190.701, Doctoral Composition, Spring 2013
MUCP 5190.701, Master's Composition, Spring 2013
MUCP 6200.701, Advanced Research in Computer Music, Fall 2012
MUCP 5690.001, Topics in Electroacoustic Music, Fall 2012
MUGC 6950.705, Doctoral Dissertation, Spring 2012
MUCP 6200.701, Advanced Research in Computer Music, Fall 2011
MUGC 6950.701, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2011
MUGC 5950.711, Master's Thesis, Fall 2011
MUGC 6950.702, Doctoral Dissertation, Summer 5W2 2011
MUGC 6950.710, Doctoral Dissertation, Spring 2011
MUCP 4900.701, Special Problems, Spring 2011
MUCP 6195.701, Advanced Research in Composition, Fall 2010
MUCP 6200.701, Advanced Research in Computer Music, Fall 2010
MUGC 6950.704, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2010
MUGC 5950.709, Master's Thesis, Fall 2010
MUCP 6900.701, Special Problems, Summer 5W2 2010
MUCP 6195.700, Advanced Research in Composition, Spring 2010
MUGC 6950.710, Doctoral Dissertation, Spring 2010
MUGC 5950.705, Master's Thesis, Spring 2010
MUCP 5690.001, Topics in Electroacoustic Music, Spring 2010
MUCP 6195.701, Advanced Research in Composition, Fall 2009
MUCP 6200.700, Advanced Research in Computer Music, Fall 2009
MUCP 6190.704, Doctoral Composition, Fall 2009
MUGC 6950.718, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2009
MUCP 5190.704, Master's Composition, Fall 2009
MUCP 4080.703, Secondary Composition II, Fall 2009
MUCP 6200.702, Advanced Research in Computer Music, Spring 2009
MUCP 6190.704, Doctoral Composition, Spring 2009
MUGC 6950.708, Doctoral Dissertation, Spring 2009
MUCP 5190.704, Master's Composition, Spring 2009
MUCP 6190.704, Doctoral Composition, Fall 2008
MUGC 6950.703, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2008
MUGC 6950.702, Doctoral Dissertation, Summer 5W2 2008
MUGC 6950.707, Doctoral Dissertation, Summer 5W1 2008
MUCP 6200.700, Advanced Computer Music Research, Spring 2008
MUCP 5185.704, Concentration Composition, Spring 2008
MUCP 6190.704, Doctoral Composition, Spring 2008
MUGC 6950.713, Doctoral Dissertation, Spring 2008
MUCP 6200.700, Advanced Computer Music Research, Fall 2007
MUGC 6950.714, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2007
MUCP 5910.702, Special Problems, Fall 2007
MUCP 6900.701, Special Problems, Summer 5W2 2007
MUCP 6190.704, Doctoral Composition, Spring 2007
MUGC 6950.717, Doctoral Dissertation, Spring 2007
MUCP 4190.704, Senior Composition Recital, Spring 2007
MUCP 6900.702, Special Problems, Spring 2007
MUCP 4180.704, Advanced Composition III, Fall 2006
MUCP 6190.704, Doctoral Composition, Fall 2006
MUGC 6950.718, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2006
MUCP 4910.701, Special Problems, Fall 2006
MUCP 6900.701, Special Problems, Fall 2006
MUCP 5690.001, Topics in Electroacoustic Music, Fall 2006
MUCP 4190.704, Advanced Composition IV, Spring 2006
MUCP 6200.700, Advanced Computer Music Research, Spring 2006
MUCP 6190.704, Doctoral Composition, Spring 2006
MUGC 6950.710, Doctoral Dissertation, Spring 2006
MUCP 5190.704, Master's Composition, Spring 2006
MUCP 5180.704, Secondary Composition, Spring 2006
MUCP 6900.705, Special Problems, Spring 2006
MUCP 3180.704, Advanced Composition I, Fall 2005
MUCP 3190.704, Advanced Composition II, Fall 2005
MUCP 6200.700, Advanced Computer Music Research, Fall 2005
MUGC 6950.714, Doctoral Dissertation, Fall 2005
MUCP 6200.700, Advanced Computer Music Research, Spring 2005
MUCP 6190.704, Doctoral Composition, Spring 2005
MUCP 5910.701, Special Problems, Spring 2005
MUCP 6900.702, Special Problems, Spring 2005
MUCP 4180.704, Advanced Composition III, Fall 2004
MUCP 6200.700, Advanced Computer Music Research, Fall 2004
MUCP 6190.704, Doctoral Composition, Fall 2004
MUCP 5670.001, Introduction to Electro Acoustic Music, Fall 2004
MUCP 5900.701, Special Problems, Fall 2004

* Texas Education Code 51.974 (HB 2504) requires each institution of higher education to make available to the public, a syllabus for undergraduate lecture courses offered for credit by the institution.

Published Publications

Published Intellectual Contributions

Book
Nelson, J. C. (2004). "They Wash Their Ambassadors in Citrus and Fennel" Michael Edward Edgerton's The 21st Century Voice.
Nelson, J. C. (2000). "Understanding and Using Csound's GEN Routines." In The Csound Book.
Book Review
Nelson, J. C. (1997). Review of David Tudor's "Three Works For Live Electronics.".
CD Recording - Solo
Nelson, J. C. (2023). Ripples in the Fabric of Space-Time. CIME 2023.
Nelson, J. C. (2023). And Time Unfolds Like a Flower. The Persistence of Time and Memory.
Nelson, J. C. (2023). Bang, Crunch, Bounce. The Persistence of Time and Memory.
Nelson, J. C. (2023). Ripples in the Fabric of Space-Time. The Persistence of Time and Memory.
Nelson, J. C. (2023). The Entropy of Memory. The Persistence of Time and Memory.
Nelson, J. C. (2023). Tightly Wound. The Persistence of Time and Memory.
Nelson, J. C. (2023). Toward the Event Horizon. The Persistence of Time and Memory.
Nelson, J. C. (2023). When Left to His Own Devices. The Persistence of Time and Memory.
Nelson, J. C. (2022). Toward the Event Horizon. Krakow:.
Nelson, J. C. (2022). and sometimes wind from the south.
Nelson, J. C. and sometimes wind from the south. Krakow:.
Nelson, J. C. (2019). Bebop in the Forsest of Lonely Rhythms.
Nelson, J. C. (2019). When Left To His Own Devices. (2019 ICEM/Acousmonium), . Krakow:.
Conference Proceeding
Nelson, J. C. (2019). MVerb: A Modifed Waveguide Mesh Reverb Plugin. 2019 International CSound Conference Conference Proceedings. 2019 Proceedings, 6. Cagli: International CSound Conference 2019 Proceedings. https://csound.com/icsc2019/proceedings.html
Journal Article
Nelson, J. C. (1999). Review of Annette Vande Gorne's "Impalpables.
Nelson, J. C. (1996). "Guide to World Wide Web and FTP Sites".
Nelson, J. C. (1995). "The Musician's Internet Primer".
Musical Composition
Nelson, J. C. (2023). The Entropy of Memory. The Persistence of Time and Memory.
Nelson, J. C. (2023). Bang, Crunch, Bounce. The Persistence of Time and Memory.
Nelson, J. C. (2022). Ripples in the Fabric of Space-Time. The Persistence of Time and Memory.
Nelson, J. C. (2022). Toward the Event Horizon. The Persistence of Time and Memory.
Nelson, J. C. (2022). Tightly Wound. The Persistence of Time and Memory.
Nelson, J. C. (2021). And Time Unfolds Like a Flower. The Persistence of Time and Memory.
Nelson, J. C. (2020). and sometimes wind from the south.
Nelson, J. C. (2020). and sometimes wind from the south.
Software
Nelson, J. C. (2022). MPEbowed. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2022). MPEbrass. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2022). MPEclarinet. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2022). MPEflute. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2022). MPEvco. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2022). SFilter (FiltFrzDev). https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2022). Spectral Diffuser. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2022). Stringy. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2021). Wave Terrain Synth. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2020). Syncopath. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2020). Combkey. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2020). Decalog. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2020). Granary. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2020). MorFFT. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2020). MVerb (rev.) and MVerb3D. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2020). ReSynthesizer. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2020). Scrubber. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2020). WaveMorphSynth. Combkey is a MIDI keyboard controlled comb filter with alternate tunings and multiple sound input options.
Nelson, J. C. (2019). MVerb: A Digital Waveguide Mesh Reverb Plugin. Denton, TX:. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/software
Nelson, J. C. (2000). "Composing With Csound: Granular Strategies" on the CD-ROM accompanying The Csound Book.
Nelson, J. C. (2000). GrainMaker 2.0 , a Csound soundfile granulation score generator, on the CD-ROM accompanying The Csound Book.
Video and Audiovisual Material
Nelson, J. C. (2018). When Left To His Own Devices. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/when-left-his-own-devices
Nelson, J. C. (2017). Where Lines and Curves are Scattering. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/where-lines-and-curves-are-scattering
Nelson, J. C. (2016). Illusory Lines.
Nelson, J. C. (2016). Inside a Cloud of Butterflies. http://www.computermusic.org/
Nelson, J. C. (2016). Spinning Silence in the Possible Blue. https://jcnelson.music.unt.edu/spinning-silence-possible-blue
Nelson, J. C. (2015). Turbulent Blue.
Nelson, J. C. (2012). Gerry Rigged,released in 2012 on the Centaur label's Consortium for the Distribution of Computer Music (CDCM) CD series, volume 39, Music from CEMI, crc 3219. Related Links: http://music.unt.edu/CDCM/.
Nelson, J. C. (2012). Turbulent Blue, released in September 2012 on the International Computer Music Association's ICMC 2012 compact disc. Related Links: http://computermusic.org/.
Nelson, J. C. (2012). Turbulent Blue. Other. International Computer Music Association. http://computermusic.org/
Nelson, J. C. (2011). Turbulent Blue, released in 2011 on the companion CD for Stephen Lias' Contemporary Art Music in Texas: a Guide to Composers, Organizations, and Degree Programs. Nacogdoches, TX: SFA Press, 2011..
Nelson, J. C. (2010). objet sonore/objet cinétique, released in 2010 on the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States "Music from SEAMUS 19" compact disc. Related Links: http://www.seamusonline.org/seamuscd.html.
Nelson, J. C. (2009). objet sonore/objet cinétique, released in 2009 on the CIMESP International Competition Prize Winners compact disc, Studio PANorama, Musica Maximalista Vol. 14, Sao Paulo, Brazil (AA0001000). Related Links: http://www.flomenezes.mus.br/panaroma/cimesp.html.
Nelson, J. C. (2005). L'Horloge imaginaire, released in 2005 on the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States "Music from SEAMUS 14" compact disc (EAM 2004). Related Links: http://www.seamusonline.org/seamuscd.html.
Nelson, J. C. (2004). L'Horloge imaginaire , released in 2004 on the Mnémosyne Musique Média Bourges 2002 Bourges Commissions CD in France. Related Links: http://www.mnemosyne-musique.com/.
Nelson, J. C. (2003). Dhoormages , released in 2003 on the American Composers Forum "Sonic Circuits X" compact disc (Innova 119). Related Links: http://www.innova.mu/electronic.aspx.
Nelson, J. C. (2003). Scatter , released in March 2003 on "Cultures électroniques no. 16," Mnémosyne Musique Média Bourges 2002 Prix Quadrivium CD in France (LDC 278 076/77). Related Links: http://www.mnemosyne-musique.com/.
Nelson, J. C. (2001). Scatter , recording released in June 2001 on the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States "Music from SEAMUS 10" compact disc (EAM 2001). Related Links: http://www.seamusonline.org/seamuscd.html.
Nelson, J. C. (2001). Scatter , recording released in October 2001 on the American Composers Forum "Sonic Circuits IX" compact disc (Innova 118). Related Links: http://www.innova.mu/electronic.aspx.
Nelson, J. C. (2000). Other Terrains , recording released in April 2000 on the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States "Music from SEAMUS 9" compact disc(EAM 2000). Related Links: http://www.seamusonline.org/seamuscd.html.
Nelson, J. C. (1998). A Chris Mann Mambo , released in April 1998 on the The Frog Peak Collaborations Project CD (FP007). Related Links: http://www.frogpeak.org/fpcds/index.html.
Nelson, J. C. (1998). the rain has a slap and a curve , recording released in November 1998 on the Centaur label's Consortium for the Distribution of Computer Music (CDCM) CD Series, Volume 27, "CEMIsonics: The Threshold of Sound," CRC 2407. Related Links: http://music.unt.edu/CDCM.
Nelson, J. C. (1998). They Wash Their Ambassadors in Citrus and Fennel , recording with Heidi Dietrich Klein performing, released in March 1998 on the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States "Music from SEAMUS 7" compact disc (EAM 9801). Related Links: http://www.seamusonline.org/seamuscd.html.
Nelson, J. C. (1997). They Wash Their Ambassadors in Citrus and Fennel , recording with Joan La Barbara performing released in March 1997 on "Cultures électroniques no. 9," Mnémosyne Musique Média Bourges 1996 Prix Quadrivium CD in France (LDC 278 060/61). Related Links: http://www.mnemosyne-musique.com/.
Nelson, J. C. (1995). Six études brèves , recording with Rhonda Rider performing released in May 1995 on the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States "Music from SEAMUS 4" compact disc (EAM-9501). Related Links: http://www.seamusonline.org/seamuscd.html.
Nelson, J. C. (1995). They Wash Their Ambassadors in Citrus and Fennel , recording with Joan La Barbara performing released in November 1995 on the 17th International Luigi Russolo Competition winners CD in Italy. Related Links: http://luigi.russolo.free.fr/winners.html.
Nelson, J. C. (1995). They Wash Their Ambassadors in Citrus and Fennel , recording with Joan La Barbara performing released in September 1995 on the International Computer Music Association's ICMC 95 "Digital Playgrounds" compact disc. Related Links: http://computermusic.org/.
Nelson, J. C. (1994). Waves of Refraction , recording with William Buonocore performing released in August 1994 on the NEUMA "Electro-Acoustic Music III" compact disc (NEUMA 450-87). Related Links: http://www.neumarecords.com/.

Awarded Grants

Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Research

Fellowship
Nelson, J. C., "UNT Institute for the Advancement of the Arts Faculty Fellowship," Sponsored by UNT, University of North Texas, $18000 Funded. (September 1, 2022August 31, 2023).
Nelson, J. C., "residency to compose a new electroacoustic work at the Visby International Composers Center," Sponsored by Visby International Composers Center, International, $16500 Funded. (April 18, 2023May 22, 2023).
Nelson, J. C. (Principal), "The Persistence of Time and Memory," Sponsored by UNT, University of North Texas, $60000 Funded. (January 1, 2022May 1, 2020).
Grant - Research
Nelson, J. C., "UNTCreative Impact Award," Sponsored by UNT, University of North Texas, $5000 Funded. (April 21, 2022April 21, 2022).
Nelson, J. C., "Points Along the Spectral Continuum," Sponsored by UNT Office of Research and Innovation, University of North Texas, $5000 Funded. (January 1, 2021August 31, 2021).
,
Overall
Summative Rating
Challenge and
Engagement Index
Response Rate

out of 5

out of 7
%
of
students responded
  • Overall Summative Rating (median):
    This rating represents the combined responses of students to the four global summative items and is presented to provide an overall index of the class’s quality. Overall summative statements include the following (response options include a Likert scale ranging from 5 = Excellent, 3 = Good, and 1= Very poor):
    • The course as a whole was
    • The course content was
    • The instructor’s contribution to the course was
    • The instructor’s effectiveness in teaching the subject matter was
  • Challenge and Engagement Index:
    This rating combines student responses to several SPOT items relating to how academically challenging students found the course to be and how engaged they were. Challenge and Engagement Index items include the following (response options include a Likert scale ranging from 7 = Much higher, 4 = Average, and 1 = Much lower):
    • Do you expect your grade in this course to be
    • The intellectual challenge presented was
    • The amount of effort you put into this course was
    • The amount of effort to succeed in this course was
    • Your involvement in course (doing assignments, attending classes, etc.) was
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