Ellen Fullman facts for kids

Ellen Fullman, born in 1957, is an American composer. She also builds and plays her own musical instruments. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Today, she lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ellen is famous for her unique "Long String Instrument." This instrument is 70 feet (about 21 meters) long! It is tuned in a special way called just intonation. She plays it by rubbing her fingers, which are coated with rosin, along the strings. People have said that hearing this instrument is like standing inside a giant grand piano.

Ellen Fullman's Journey and Music

Ellen Fullman first studied sculpture at the Kansas City Art Institute. This was before she moved to New York in the early 1980s. While in Kansas City, she created a special skirt that made sounds when she moved. She also wrote songs and recorded them in New York.

Creating the Long String Instrument

In 1981, Ellen started to develop her amazing Long String Instrument. She worked on it in her studio in Brooklyn. This instrument has many metallic strings. When she rubs them with rosin-coated fingers, they create a sound like an organ. It's a very unique and powerful sound.

She has made many recordings with this unusual instrument. Ellen has also worked with other famous artists. These include composer Pauline Oliveros and the Kronos Quartet. In 1985, she stayed at the Apollohuis in the Netherlands. There, she recorded her first album, The Long String Instrument.

Awards and Performances

Ellen Fullman has received many awards and special invitations. These include grants and residencies where she could focus on her music.

Notable Awards

Some of her awards include:

• A Grants to Artists Award from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts (2015).
• A McKnight Visiting Composer Residency (2010).
• An Artist-In-Residence position at the Headlands Center for the Arts (2008).
• A fellowship for Japan (2007).
• A residency in Berlin, Germany (2000).

Her performance with the Austin New Music Co-op was also recognized. It won an award for Best Chamber Performance in 2009-2010.

Where She Has Performed

Ellen Fullman has performed her music in many places. These include festivals, art spaces, and museums around the world. Some famous venues include:

• Lincoln Center Out of Doors in New York.
• The Festival van Vlaanderen in Brussels.
• Other Minds in San Francisco.
• The Donaueschinger Musiktage in Germany.
• The Walker Art Center.

Her music has also been part of art exhibits. These include shows at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Pompidou Center in Paris.

Films and Writings

A documentary film about Ellen's work was made by Peter Esmonde. It is called 5 Variations on a Long String. This film first showed at the SXSW festival. Ellen also edited a film herself called Suspended Music. This film is about her work with Pauline Oliveros's Deep Listening Band. It premiered in 2004. Ellen has also written articles about her work for music magazines. She has been interviewed on NPR's Morning Edition.

Ellen Fullman's Musical Works

Ellen Fullman has created many musical pieces and albums.

Albums and Collaborations

Some of her well-known works include:

• Fluctuations, with trombonist Monique Buzzarté. This album was chosen as one of the top recordings of 2008.
• Ort, recorded with Konrad Sprenger. This was also named one of the top recordings of 2004.
• Suspended Music, with the Deep Listening Band.
• Change of Direction.
• Body Music.

Commissioned Pieces

Ellen has also been asked to create music for special projects. These are called commissioned works.

• She created Post Futurist Reverie for a project featuring replicas of Luigi Russolo's Intonarumori. These are old noise-making instruments.
• She also made a piece for Trimpin's Klavier Nonette. This was an art installation with nine toy pianos controlled by computers.

Lectures and Other Projects

Ellen Fullman often gives talks about her work. She has spoken at places like Mills College in California. Other projects include a performance at Issue Project Room in 2011. Her album The Long Instrument was re-released on vinyl. This recording came from her time at Het Apollohuis in Holland in 1985.