Graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1964. Taught from 1967 until 1976 at the Basel (Switzerland) Conservatory, from 1969 until 1976 Director of the Basel Conservatory. From 1976 until 1981 Department Head at the Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique (IRCAM), Paris. Since 1981 professor of Music Theory and Composition at the Hochschule for Music in Zurich. 1985 co-founder of the Swiss Center for Computer Music. Co-founder (1983) and from 1986 until 1992 Secretary of the International Confederation of Electroacoustic Music (ICEM). Since 1993 member of the International Academy of Electroacoustic Music. Compositions published by Edition Modern & Tre Media and Mnémosyne, recordings published by Wergo and Jecklin, writings published by Gallimard, Oxford University Press, Eulenburg, MIT Press etc. Lives outside Basel, Switzerland.