The History Of Electronic Music in Under Twenty-Four Minutes
… here’s a [very] brief history covering 90 years of electronic music through the lens of “popular” music …
Music
Wendy Carlos — My Introduction to Electronic Music
I have, on many occasions, referred to Wendy Carlos as one of my introductions to the world of electronic music and synthesizers through her 1968 album Switched On Bach. It was Wendy who inspired Robert Moog to refine and perfect his Moog synthesizers, with which she recorded the album.
Else Marie Pade — First Danish Composer of Electronic and Concrete Music
In 1954, she became the first Danish composer of electronic and concrete music,
Isao Tomita — Pioneer of Electronic and Space Music
Isao Tomita, best known simply as Tomita, was a Japanese composer and is regarded as one of the pioneers of electronic music and space music. He was among the most famous producers of analog synthesizer arrangements.
Delia Derbyshire — The Sound Behind Dr. Who
Perhaps one of the most iconic pieces of original early electronic might arguably be the theme music for the BBC’s Dr. Who. When the show debuted in 1963, the first thing everyone heard was the work of an “assistant” in the BBC’s Radiophonic Workshop by the name of Delia Derbyshire.
Elaine Radigue — musique concrete to ARP and beyond
A contemporary of Laurie Spiegel, Elaine Radique is a French composer who has worked extensively with the ARP 2500 synthesizer
Daphne Orem – Oramics: Drawing Music
[Daphne Oram] was one of the first British composers to produce electronic sound, and was a pioneer of musique concrète in the UK.
Laurie Spiegel — Innovator of Electronic Music
Laurie Spiegel is a musician, composer, cat lover, New Yorker, and an innovator of electronic music. She
Modular … Thoughts Revisited
Several months ago, I wrote a piece outlining four reasons that I no longer wanted to build a modular rig. But, as I write this post today, on the sixth anniversary of the death of Keith Emerson, I’ve had a bit of a change of heart.
Learn About Modular Without Breaking The Bank
Have you got the modular synthesis bug, but don’t want to shell out a ton of money, only to find out it’s not for you? I know that I’ve mentioned the free VCV Rack software in the past, and used it in a video to… Read More »Learn About Modular Without Breaking The Bank
Suzanne Ciani — Electronic Musician, Composer, Sound Designer
I find it interesting that, while her instruments are newer and she has embraced a workflow that incorporates both Buchla modular synths and computer and iPad apps, her core approach to creation remains as it was nearly 50 years ago.
Uli Behringer Is Having Too Much Fun
Love him or hate him, you’ve got to admit that it’s good to see someone who is able to fulfill his dreams. As much as I love to hate on him, I have to admit that I’m more than a little envious.
What Sorcery is This?
A couple of weeks back, I put up a fairly lengthy post about my idea of the perfect synthesizer … You may have inferred from my previous post that I was pretty smitten by the Modal Electronics Cobalt8 series. And who wouldn’t be?
A Little Synth History – Tom Oberheim
This is post 1 of 14 in the series “Synth Pioneers” This series highlights pioneers in electronic music. It is not intended to be a deep dive, but rather a jumping off point for further exploration. I welcome your comments and insights on any of… Read More »A Little Synth History – Tom Oberheim
My Perfect Synthesizer
Over the years, I’ve given a lot of thought to my idea of the “perfect synthesizer.” Although some have come close, it has yet to come along. Let’s lay out my criteria for a perfect synth: 3 Digitally Controlled Analog Oscillators Each oscillator has Sine,… Read More »My Perfect Synthesizer