Leni Alexander

Full biography Leni Alexander

Leni Alexander (8 June 1924 – 7 August 2005) was a German-Chilean composer known for her pioneering work in electronic music. Born in Stuttgart, Germany, Alexander moved to Chile in 1954, where she became a naturalized citizen. She studied composition at the Arts Institute of the University of Chile in Santiago and gained experience in electronic music at the Studio di Fonologia Musicale in Milan, Italy.

Alexander was a prolific composer who experimented with various musical forms, including electronic music. She was one of the few women composers working in the field of electronic music during the 1960s and 1970s, and her compositions were heavily influenced by her background in classical music and jazz. Some of her notable works include "Labyrinth Inventions" for harpsichord and tape and "Strandgut" for flute, clarinet, and tape.

In addition to her work as a composer, Alexander was also a respected music educator. She taught at the Catholic University of Chile and the University of Chile, where she helped to establish the influential Electroacoustic Music Studio. Alexander also served as a mentor to many young composers in Chile, inspiring them to explore new musical possibilities.

Today, Alexander is remembered as a pioneering figure in electronic music and a trailblazer for women composers. Her contributions to the field helped to lay the groundwork for future generations of electronic music composers, and her music continues to be performed and studied around the world.