(b. 1952, Grand Rapids, Michigan – d. 30 August 2012, Grand Rapids, Michigan).

American composer of mostly chamber and electroacoustic works that have been performed throughout Europe and the USA; he was also active as a percussionist.

Mr. Manion initially studied composition with Randolph Coleman, Dary John Mizelle and Gary Lee Nelson at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio from 1974–77, where he earned his BMus, then studied composition with Ben Johnston and Salvatore Martirano at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign from 1978–80 and there earned his MMus. He later studied composition with Jonathan Harvey at the University of Sussex from 1985–88. In addition, he attended seminars with Robert Ashley at Mills College in Oakland, California in 1977–78 and with Mauricio Kagel at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne in 1980–81.

As a percussionist, he performed in a variety of jazz bands from the USA, as well as ensembles for contemporary music, orchestras and rock bands. He later performed as a soloist on electronic percussion.

He was also active in other positions. He co-founded with Clarence Albertson Barlow, Manfred Lexa and Christoph Lischka the organisation GIMIK: Initiative Musik und Informatik Köln in 1986.

COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS

ORCHESTRAL:

Music for Wind Ensemble, symphonic band, 1972

Interjections, 1973

Delta, 3 ensembles (flute, oboe, clarinet, vibraphone, marimba; piano, 2 synthesizers, percussion; bass clarinet, bassoon, 2 cellos, double bass), 1976

Wheels, 2 percussion, 4 variable ensembles of instruments capable of producing sustained notes, 1977

CHAMBER MUSIC:

Six Pieces for Solo Flute, flute, 1973

Constellations I, flute, live electronics, 1974

Orbis musica, 4 ensembles (any 4 traditional Western instruments; any 4 non-Western instruments; any 4 non-Western instruments; any 4 non-Western instruments), fixed media, live electronics, 1975

Trio, alto flute, harp, cello, xylophone, percussion, 1975

Constellations II, violin/viola/cello, 1975

Combinations, any 3–15 players (winds, strings, keyboard instruments), 1976

Regions, cello, fixed media, 1976

Meta, marimba, ensemble (2 synthesizers, 3 percussion), 1977

Screen I, 2 piccolos, 2 clarinets, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 3 percussion, fixed media, 1978

Screen II, trombone, fixed media, 1978

Islands, flute, fixed media (4 tracks), 1982

Pulse, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, synthesizer, 1983

Music for Cello and Electronic Sounds, cello, fixed media, 1991

Music for Violin and Marimba, violin, marimba, 1992

Music for Flute and Marimba, flute, marimba, 1992

Music for Trombone and Electronic Sounds, trombone, fixed media, 1994

String Quartet, 1996

Music for Bass Clarinet and Electronic Sounds, bass clarinet, fixed media, 1998

Music for Solo Vibraphone, vibraphone, 2000

Music for Electronic Percussion I, electronic percussion, 2000–01

Music for Electronic Percussion II, electronic percussion, 2002

VOCAL:

Part II (vocalise), mezzo-soprano, fixed media, 1997–2000

PIANO:

Echoes/Densities, 3 pianos, 1974

Music for Piano and Electronic Sounds, piano, fixed media, 1984

ORGAN:

Music for Organ, 1976

ELECTROACOUSTIC:

Part I, fixed media, 2005 (also version as Part Ia, live electronics, 2005)

MULTIMEDIA/PERFORMANCE:

Image, silent percussion, film (by the composer), 1980–81