About

Tim Rutherford-Johnson (b. 1977) is a writer, speaker and teacher on contemporary music. His first book, Music after the Fall: Modern Composition and Culture since 1989 was published in February 2017 by University of California Press.

His new edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Music –  updated with entries on modern composition, world music, and pop, rock, jazz and electronica – was published in 2012 by Oxford University Press. It has been translated into Spanish and (simplified) Chinese.

Tim has taught at Goldsmiths College and Brunel University and he sits on the artistic board of the Riot Ensemble. He has appeared as a speaker at Gaudeamus Muziekweek (Netherlands), Only Connect (Norway), hcmf// (UK) and the London Contemporary Music Festival.

He has written programme essays for the Salzburg, Aldeburgh, Rainy Days (Luxembourg) and BBC Proms festivals, as well as for most major venues in London. He has provided sleevenotes for many record labels, including Coviello, Delphian, Kairos and World Edition. Recent subjects of his writing include Chaya Czernowin, Morton Feldman, Alwynne Pritchard and Carl Stone.

He lives near the Thames in southeast London with his wife Elizabeth and their two children. He was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a baby, but so far hasn’t let this get in his way.

If you would like to contact me, please email timrutherfordjohnson AT gmail DOT com. You can also find me on Twitter (@moderncomp).

Portrait photo by Anton Lukoszevieze.