Curtis Roads

Curtis Roads is an American composer and researcher who has made fundamental contributions to the development of granular synthesis and computer music since the 1970s. His theoretical work — especially Microsound (2001) — laid the groundwork for understanding the sonic implications of working with extremely short time-scale sound particles. His compositions, including work released on MIT Press and Asphodel Records, apply these techniques to create shimmering, complex textures of considerable beauty and intellectual density. He teaches at UC Santa Barbara and remains a key figure in computer music.