This video, about the history of Oberheim synthesizers, popped up on my YouTube suggested videos feed, and this morning I took a little break and watched it. It’s…
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 the posts, and welcome any additional information you might come across — simply add your comments to the posts.
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.
Laurie Spiegel — Innovator of Electronic Music
Laurie Spiegel is a musician, composer, cat lover, New Yorker, and an innovator of electronic music. She
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.
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
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.
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.