The history of electronic music that predates the era of rock and roll for decades. And most of us not on this planet, though often vague, and development under appreciated and misunderstood. Today, this body “another world” sound, which began nearly a century, and can not appear strange and unique for the new generation and a greater acceptance of it as the dominant, but had a bumpy road, and public acceptance of the masses, and slow.
Many of the musicians – the followers of electronic music and modern – and developed a passion for the synthesis of analogues in late 1970 and early 1980 with the signing of songs such as penetration, Gary Numan and “Are Friends Electric” It was at this time that these devices have become smaller, more accessible?. and more convenient for users and more affordable for many of us. In this article I will try to trace the history of the chapters are easy to digest and give examples of the modern advocates of the best today.
In my opinion, this was the beginning of a new era. To create electronic music, and is no longer necessary to get the technology into the room filled in the studio or live. That is, until now, only the domain of artists like Kraftwerk, the arsenal of electronic gadgets and innovations can be tailored to the rest of us only dream of, and even if we were able to understand the functions of logistics. That said, at the time of growth at 60 and 70, however, had little understanding of the complexity of the work that set the standard in previous decades to reach this point.
The history of electronic music owes much to Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007). The German composer Stockhausen Avanti arrest and figurehead leader of electronic music, from 1950, and the impact on the movement that would eventually have a major influence on names like Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Eno’s brain, and Cabaret Voltaire, the development of Deira, not to mention the experimental work of the Beatles and others in 1960. Having your face on the cover of “Sergeant Pepper Band lonely Hearts Club” by the Beatles opus Masters in 1967. Let us begin, however, go a little further back in time.
In the 20th century
I stood still astronomer at that time originally when I discovered that the first documentation, electronic only, and the concerts were in 1970 or in 1980 but in 1920!
He invented the first purely electronic instrument, the Theremin, which played without touching, by Russian scientist and cellist Lev Termen (1896-1993), circa 1919.
In 1924, Theremin its creation, in coordination with the Orchestra of Leningrad. He drew the attention generated by theremin the public to attend the concerts were organized across Europe and Britain. In 1930, he witnessed the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York, a classical music concert for just a series of ten theremins. You must control the number of trained musicians to play this instrument a strange sound by moving the hands around the antennas has been so nice, surreal and strange to the public before the technology!
For those interested, check out the recordings Theremin player Clara Rockmore (from 1911-1998). Lithuanian workers born Rockmore (Reisenberg) with the inventor in New York to perfect the instrument in his early years, and became the most acclaimed performance, bright and recognized and represented throughout his life.
Clara later held the first “star” of the real electronic music. Are likely to find more offers classical music strange, but beautiful on the Theremin. It’s definitely one of my favorites!
Electronic music in science fiction, film and television
Unfortunately, due primarily to the difficulty in mastering the skills, did not last long as the future of musical instrument Theremin. In the end, found a niche in the science fiction film in 1950. 1951 Classic Film “The Day the Earth Stood Still” with sound by influential American Film music composer Bernard Hermann (known as “psychological” Alfred Hitchcock, etc.), and the rich with an “alien” with two Theremins and another mix of electronic devices with audio devices.
Using the vacuum tube technology Oscillator Theremin, the French cellist and radio telegraphist, Maurice Martenot (1898-1980), began developing Ondes Martenot (French, known as the Martenot waves) in 1928.
Using a standard keyboard and family can be more easily dominated by music, and got a Theremin instrument where no Martenot be easy to use. In fact, it became the first successful electronic instrument to be used by composers and orchestras of the time from work to this day.
Appears on the original theme of the 1960 television series “Star Trek”, and can be heard on recordings by Bryan Ferry and contemporaries such as Radiohead.
And expression of several rings of Ondes Martenot, although the melody is the generation nearest the sound of instruments to approach the modern synthesis.
The “Forbidden Planet”, which was launched in 1956, the first major movie studio is characterized by a soundtrack exclusively electronic … Besides providing amazing robot Ruby Anne Francis! Horizon has produced a new result by a husband and wife team of Luis and Pepe Baron, in late 1940, established the first study in the private sector in the United States of America Artists experimental electronic recording as iconic John Cage (which has Garde Avanti work questioned the definition of the music itself!).
And Barron is generally attributed to broaden the application of electronic music in film. Lewis structures for a welder in one hand, the departments that were manipulated to create a wide range of impacts of the “land” foreigner, and decorative items for the film. Will be both, you can repeat this sounds like a deliberately circle overhead, smoke and fatigue to achieve the desired result intact.
Therefore, all that was recorded on tape Pepe and sifted through hours of editing reels are considered valid for use, then this manipulation again with a delay and echo and creative final product known as multiple tape decks.
Besides this method is hard work, and feel compelled to include what is, without doubt, the most enduring and influential than ever, television electronic signature: Subject to the long British series 1963 sci-fi adventure, “Doctor”. This was the first television series offered subject electronics. For the theme of “Doctor” was created in a workshop program legendary BBC tape, rings and fluctuation test to run through the effects and recording tape, and then return to the manipulation and editing the other leaders Delia Derbyshire electrical, and interpretation of the configuration, Ron Miller.
As you can see, the use of electronic music often in science fiction came in the main source for general information of this music as “another world” and “strange, strange sound. And it has been the case at least until 1968 with the launch of the hit album “Switched, and Bach,” which are entirely on the Moog synthesizer typical Walter Carlos (who, with national implementation plans surgery curves, and later became Wendy Carlos).
Archive of electronic music in 1970 expanded to the first half through the likes of Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream, especially in 1980 when I met with greater acceptance.
In mid-1900: Concrete Music
In the development through 1900, electronic music is not limited to the electronic circuits that are being manipulated to produce sound. Again, in 1940, is the invention of a relatively new Germany – has become important for a number of European Garde Avanti composers, especially the speaker and French composer Pierre Schaeffer (1910 – reel to reel registered and established in 1930 and 1995) who developed the technology of music assembly, described as concrete.
Concrete music (Voices of the “real world” does not mean changing these artificial sounds produced by musical instruments) to participate fully in the relationship between segments of the tape contains a “found” sounds – natural, environmental, industrial and human – and manipulate these effects like delay, reverb, distortion, speed up or slow down the tape speed (Varispeed), investing, etc..
Stockhausen concerts that take place and take advantage of their music and videos concrete works again (at this stage of electronics as well as the voices of “real world” is used in the recordings) on top of what would be the implementation of the instruments by live classical players in response to the mood and the reasons that the session will hear!
Concrete music have a great impact not only on the Avante Garde effects libraries, but also in contemporary music in 1960 and 1970. Important work to check the “Use this method to open new tracks like” The Beatles Tomorrow does not know “,” Revolution No. 9 “and” being for “Kate, sir, and Pink Floyd album” gums nation, ” “The Dark Side of the Moon” and Frank Zappa and “Lumpy Gravy”. all the pieces of tape used-ups and home-made tape rings. often feeds on key air in the mixture
Today it can be implemented using simple digital samples, but the heroes were fighting yesterday hours, days or even weeks to complete the piece maybe four minutes! For those of us who of contemporary musicians, understand the history of electronic music helps in the evaluation of technology has taken a quantum leap in recent times. However, these innovative from the beginning, these pioneers – of which there are many on the road – and the important figures who have influenced our predecessors, creating the foundations that have become our revolutionary electronic music for the day loyalty and pay them!
1950: First ship equipment and music playback
To move forward a few years to 1957 and enter the first electronic computer in the mix. As you can imagine, was not exactly a laptop, but consumes an entire room and easy to use so you do not understand. And the rest to pay the creators of the border. He was one of the Max Matthews (1926 -) Bell Labs phone, and New Jersey, who developed a music, original music program for computers on which all subsequent digital synthesis have their base communities. The Matthews, known as the “Father of Computer Music” with the IBM mainframe digital, and was the first to make music on your computer.
At the height of Stanley Kubrick’s film ’2001 in 1968: A Space Odyssey “, is used Matthews 1961″ electronic delivery “Daisy Bell” song at the end of 1800. Here is the implementation of the musical accompaniment programmed by a computer, along with technical team synthesized “singing” the human voice leading in 60 principles. In the film, also falls back to the computer HAL, “it” back to this song, and fidelity to the origins of “their” own.
1957 was also the setting up and the second sound progress on the composite RCA (improvement of the original 1955). It also contained the sequence of the action program of electronic music. This compound has been installed RCA enormous, and remains, in the center of Colombia, Princeton Electronic Music, New York, where the legendary Robert Moog worked for a period of time. Specialized laboratories and universities of technology in the main house experimentation and computer music synthesizer in the early era.
In 1960, the advent of the Moog
The logistics and the complexity of creation, and even after agreeing to what they were, until then, and the music mix is easy, has led to increased demand for mobile instruments can be played. One of the first responders, and certainly the most successful, was Robert Moog (1934-2005). Adjustment method used to play the family piano keyboard.
Moog huge phone and cable operators in the type of synth components and modules was not to be transported and set up with any amount of ease or speed! But given a big boost in popularity with the success of Walter Carlos, as mentioned earlier, in 1968. “Switched, On Bach” LP has (long player) and was the best-selling all-time record, it was the first time he appeared on the album of synthesized music as a whole instead of cutting the pilot.
The album was a classic complex music with multiple tracks and various dubbing is necessary, only mono mix also! Carlos has also created electronic music of “A Clockwork Orange”, Stanley Kubrick 1972 film disturbing for the future.
From this point, Moog synthesizer is widespread in the number of albums of the 1960 deceased contemporaries. In 1967 he became the Monkees “Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.” The first commercial pop album to announce the launch of Moog modules. In fact, bought the singer / drummer Micky Dolenz, and one of the first units sold as well.
It was not until 1970, from the beginning, but when it seemed that the Minimoog first developed a serious interest among musicians. This portable unit with the voice of a little fat have a significant impact to be part of a group of live musicians musical tour in the coming years. Other companies, including sequential circuits, Korg and Roland began producing their own synthesizers, the birth of a subculture of music.
I can not close the chapter of 1960, however, without reference to the Mellotron. Often seen as an instrument of electronics and mechanics as a primitive precursor of the modern digital sampling.
Raised Mellotron keyboard developed in Britain in early 1960, and based on Chamberlain (an uncomfortable between the U.S. and has designed a tool from the previous decade), pre-recorded tapes, each key corresponding to the present note is equivalent to height of the voice of the instrument that has been pre-loaded.
And the legendary Mellotron for use in areas Beatles Strawberry 1966 the song “Forever”. Flute and tape used between banks to enter the game haunting Paul McCartney.
Flourished a popular instrument, was used in many of the recordings of the era, such as “Nights in White Satin”, which has achieved tremendous success of The Moody Blues saga. Witness in 1970 adopted a more progressive rock bands and more. Featured electronic pioneers Tangerine Dream in their early albums.
With time and advances in chip technology, however, this charming instrument remains in the session.
1970: Bollinger came the birth of electronics
Album of fluid in the first Tangerine Dream as “Phaedra” of 1974 and the work of Brian Eno with ‘ambient music and self-produced the album by David Bowie “Heroes” and attracted more interest in the combination of all the musicians and the public.
It took Kraftwerk, 1974 seminal album “Autobahn” has achieved international commercial success, and even the middle-add more precision, and the sublime beats and electronic beats and synth melodies. He suggested that the simplicity of cold and computerized world of the industrial urban areas. They are often used voice codecs and voice synthesis devices, such as “attack,” the robotic voice of a great emulator, the latter being of assistance to children learning!
Although inspired by the work of experimental electronic Stockhausen, artists, Kraftwerk was the first to successfully combine all the elements of music and noise generated electronically and produce a song easily identifiable. He helped add voices on many songs, both in their mother tongue, German, and gain international fame, including becoming one of the pioneers of the most influential artists in contemporary music of the last fifty years. Kraftwerk in 1978 gem “Das Modell” in the UK number one place with the English version released, “model” in February 1982, making it one of the first planning of electric blankets!
Ironically, although the movement had had no association with MS (electronic music) to facilitate greater acceptance. Brought the movement in the mid 1970′s punk, especially in Britain, and with it a new and unique approach: one that gave priority to freedom of expression rather than the excellence of performance and formal training, such as those adopted by Progressive rock musicians contemporary. The initial aggression of punk, metal becomes a less abrasive in late 1970, the new wave. This, mixed with the ability to withstand a relatively large number small, easy to use synthesizers, synth led to an explosion of trade for 1980 soon.
He began a new generation of young people to explore the potential of these instruments and began creating soundscapes challenge the dominant view of contemporary music. But that never came, but without the scars of battle. The establishment of the music industry, especially in media, are often ridiculed this new form of expression, presentation and were willing to consign to the dustbin of history.
1980: The first golden age of electronic music for the masses
Gary Numan has become the first business without synth star with the hit 1979 “Tubeway Army”, “Are Friends Electric? ‘. An element of science fiction is far from new. And directed some of the photographs taken from fiction classics, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.” The film is also based on the success of 1982 “Blade” in the same book.
Despite Friends’ Electric? Drum traditionally distinct and support the low and the use of dominant Polymoogs give the song its distinctive voice as well. First synthesizers were recorded based on the release of a number to reach the state planning and one in the UK during the years of post-punk and helped a new type. Do not mix more, electronic and / or music from the other side of the mainstream. exciting!
Developed new advances in electronic technology at affordable prices directly in the hands of young creative electronics, and began to turn professional studies.
He became Fairlight CMI samples designed in Australia in 1978, the first polyphonic sampling device available in the digital market and the high cost, but he saw only in the use of the likes of Trevor Horn, Stevie Wonder and Peter Gabriel. In the middle of the decade, however, smaller and cheaper instruments have entered the market as the AKAI everywhere and a sampling simulator is often used by musicians to live to repeat this sound recording studio. Revolution in the production of music samples from this point.
In most major markets, with the exception of qualified U.S. and called commercially in early 1980 for the electric influenced artists. Including myself, this is an exciting time for many of us. I know I was not alone in the reception and a distorted guitar amp and immerse myself in the new universe of musical expression – the abstract world of voice and non-traditional.
At home, the band began to refine the real life, based in Australia (‘Send me an Angel, “” strength “of the album), a cooling warehouse (” Hey Little Girl “) and the pseudo-echo (” coward Town ‘) to draw international and more experimental clothes, like cutting capital and also developed SPK cult following abroad.
But by the middle of the decade, lost the first wave of momentum in global electronic means of resistance fed by mainstream media does not soften the music school. Most of the artists, which began in the contract as electrical predominantly based on dissolved or mixed with the audio hardware very traditional rock.
The United States remained the largest market in the world in all senses of the word, on the wings of music for many of the governor in 1980. Although the melody is based on the records are not reached the U.S. charts, a division of the first person in 1982, the United States an excellent plan “does not want children?” As a whole is a few years before the current U.S. makes electronic music, and at this point, the same rule as dominant for musicians and fans around the world.
In 1988 he was something of a watershed year for electronic music in the United States. He was often criticized in the press in the early years of his life, that the development of Deira involuntarily – and ignorant of most of them – led to this new attack. From the center of worship in America for many of the decade, a new game high turnover in what is now called modern rock radio in the presentations was the massive stadium. Played to sold out arenas electric taxi was not common in the United States at the time!
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