In his theoretical book, Self-Similar Melodies, Tom Johnson explains the logical and mathematical techniques he uses in his composition. These include finite and infinite automata, the paper folding formula, and sequences taken from Pascal's triangle. This book is rather detailed treatment, 291 pages long, with many short melodies written to demonstrate the techniques employed. "Composer Tom Johnson weaves back and forth between notes and numbers, delighting in patterns..." "Composer Tom Johnson weaves back and forth between notes and numbers, delighting in patterns..." --From Scientific American "Composer Tom Johnson weaves back and forth between notes and numbers, delighting in patterns..." --From Scientific American Tom Johnson, born in Colorado in 1939, received B.A. and M.Mus. degrees from Yale University, and studied composition privately with Morton Feldman. After 15 years in New York, he moved to Paris, where he has lived since 1983. He is considered a minimalist, since he works with simple forms, limited scales, and generally reduced materials, but he proceeds in a more logical way than most minimalists, often using formulas, permutations, predictable sequences and various mathematical models. Johnson is well known for his operas: The Four Note Opera(1972) continues to be presented in many countries. Riemannoper has been staged more than 30 times in German-speaking countries since its premier in Bremen in 1988. Often played non-operatic works include Bedtime Stories, Rational Melodies, Music and Questions, Counting Duets, Tango, Narayana's Cows, and Failing: a very difficult piece for solo string bass. His largest composition, the Bonhoeffer Oratorium, a two-hour work in German for orchestra, chorus, and soloists, with text by the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, was premiered in Maastricht in 1996, and has since been presented in Berlin and New York. Johnson has also written numerous radio pieces, such as J'entends un choeur (commissioned by Radio France for the Prix Italia, 1993), Music and Questions (also available on an Australian Broadcasting Company CD) and Die Melodiemaschinen, premiered by WDR Radio in Cologne in January 1996. 21st century projects include Tilework, a series of 14 pieces for solo instruments, published by Editions 75 in 2003, Same or Different, a piece commissioned by the Dutch radio in 2004, and the Combinations for String Quartet, premiered in Berlin on the MärzMusik festival in 2004, and more recently, scores such as Kirkman’s Ladies, Networks, Septet, and 55 Chords for two electric keyboards, all derived from combinatorial designs. As performer he frequently plays his Galileo, a 40-minute piece written for a self-invented percussion instrument. The celebration of his 80th birthday in 2019 included the publication of the book Finding Music (in English and German) (published by MusikTexte) which contains his writings, and the the sound installation Knock on Wood with wood blocks which he did in collaboration with Martin Riches, and special concerts in Amsterdam, San Sebastian, and Paris. Johnson received the French national prize in the victoires de la musique in 2001 for Kientzy Loops. The latest orchestra score is 360 Chords, premiered in July 2008 by Musica Viva in Munich. The principal recordings currently available on CD are the Musique pour 88 (1988) (XI), An Hour for Piano (1971)(Lovely Music), The Chord Catalogue (1986) (XI), Organ and Silence (2000) (Ants), and Kientzy Plays Johnson(2004) (Pogus), Rational Melodies and Bedtime Stories performed by clarinetist Roger Heaton (Ants Records AG12) and Symmetries (Karnatic Labs KLR 010). A CD of his Counting to Seven, in about 30 different languages, interpreted by Ensemble Dedalus, was released in 2021 by New World Records. The Voice of New Music, a collection of articles written 1971-1982 for the Village Voice, was published by Apollohuis (1989). Self-Similar Melodies (1996) and Other Harmony: Beyond Tonal and Atonal (2015) are theoretical books in English published by Editions 75 and Two-Eighteen Press. A complete listing of his music and books is available at 218Press.com (for North America, prices in US dollars) and Editions75.com (prices in Euros) websites.