Larry Polansky

Larry Polansky (October 16, 1954 – May 9, 2024) was an American composer, guitarist, mandolinist, and academic.

Biography Polansky was born on October 16, 1954, in New York City to first-generation Jewish-American parents. He grew up in Valley Stream, Nassau County, Long Island. He became fascinated with the guitar from an early age, which remained central to his work throughout his life. He failed his senior-year English class but was allowed to graduate from high school in 1972 due to high SAT scores.

The brother of the writer Steven Polansky, Polansky read mathematics and music at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), graduating in 1977. Music historian and musician Amy C. Beal was his long time partner and frequent musical collaborator.

Polansky died on May 9, 2024, at the age of 69.

Discography Source: freeHorn (2017, Cold Blue Music) Three Pieces for Two Pianos (2016, New World Records) The World's Longest Melody (2010, New World Records, featuring Zwerm guitar quartet) The Theory of Impossible Melody (1990, Artifact Recordings; 2008 Reissue on New World Records) Trios (2004, Pogus CDs, with Douglas Repetto, Tom Erbe, Chris Mann, Christian Wolff) Four Voice Canons (2002, Cold Blue Recordings) Change (2002, Artifact Recordings) Lonesome Road (2001, New World Records, featuring Martin Christ, piano) Simple Harmonic Motion (1994, Artifact Recordings)