MATRIXSYNTH: BSEM - The Boston School of Electronic Music Website


Thursday, April 28, 2016

BSEM - The Boston School of Electronic Music Website


This one in via an anonymous comment:

"Everyone should check out this link for info about Boston School Of Electronic Music, founded by Jim Michmerhuizen, who also wrote the original Manual for the ARP 2600. Somewhere at the site is a pdf with a graet patch for the 2600 by Jim in 1972. A SAMPLE/HOLD PATCH THAT SWINGS.
http://2little2late.org/BSEM/"

via the website:

"The Boston School of Electronic Music was "founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in May of 1972 by Jim Michmerhuizen, BSEM was the first independent school of electronic music in the United States.

Closing in 1978 as the result of a catastrophic fire, BSEM was a focal point for those interested in electronic music synthesis. This site is an attempt to preserve some of the history and culture, and to document that unique moment in the late 20th century..."


An interesting side note according to this post, "a former ARP engineer told me that this was a side project of a ARP/Aries engineer for the Boston School of Electronic Music."

I'm curious if this was Jim Michmerhuizen's or Dennis Colin's, the engineer behind the ARP 2600 and Aries modular. If anyone knows, feel free to leave a comment below. A search for Jim Michmerhuizen on the site brings up a couple of previous posts but no mention of Aries.

Updates via the comments:

Fletcher Ingram:
"The person in question is Ron Rivera. I can't find where I saw that he was evolved in the ARP techy stuff department, but the following link: "http://www.gentleelectric.com/AriesMusic.html" indicates his having done work for Aries Music and that he did fix, clean, restore all things synthesizers. In his dining room was either a Moog 55 or 35 continuously being worked on, or it was the dining room table. You also had to be aware of the rabbit droppings throughout his apartment. He help with the Aries analog Sequencer & Sequential Switch. He offered modified ARP2600 & Minimoogs, adding Sync and other enhancements. I work with him several times doing menial work. I attended & resided at BSEM for several years before it closed as a student, house keeper, office boy, and Lab assistant. I may have embellished a few things here, but I was indeed involved with most things going on at BSEM in the middle to late 1970s. BSEM was a hell of an experience that I will remember till I go to be with Lord. If further info and corrections are needed:
Fletcher Ingram
626.768.8784
fletcher_ingram@yahoo.com
YesTalesRSOG74@yahoo.com"

Michael Wm. Gilbert
"According to Jim M. this synth predated Aries. Per Jim:
'This is a picture of the big synthesizer BSEM built for Wesleyan University around 1974. This was basically Bob Snowdale's initiative; he came to us from W.U. having studied with Alvin Lucier there. Later, of course, Snowdale went on to found Aries.'

Somewhere there was also a big customized Moog synthesizer that we (BSEM) installed at UMass Boston in the mid 70's. Bob Moog himself came, and after it was set I enjoyed driving him back to the airport and hanging out with him while waiting for his flight.

For Fletcher - Ron Rivera's bunny was named Pummel :)"

4 comments:

  1. The person in question is Ron Rivera. I can't find where I saw that he was evolved in the ARP techy stuff department, but the following link: "http://www.gentleelectric.com/AriesMusic.html" indicates his having done work for Aries Music and that he did fix, clean, restore all things synthesizers. In his dining room was either a Moog 55 or 35 continuously being worked on, or it was the dining room table. You also had to be aware of the rabbit droppings throughout his apartment. He help with the Aries analog Sequencer & Sequential Switch. He offered modified ARP2600 & Minimoogs, adding Sync and other enhancements. I work with him several times doing menial work. I attended & resided at BSEM for several years before it closed as a student, house keeper, office boy, and Lab assistant. I may have embellished a few things here, but I was indeed involved with most things going on at BSEM in the middle to late 1970s. BSEM was a hell of an experience that I will remember till I go to be with Lord. If further info and corrections are needed:
    Fletcher Ingram
    626.768.8784
    fletcher_ingram@yahoo.com
    YesTalesRSOG74@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. According to Jim M. this synth predated Aries. Per Jim:
    "This is a picture of the big synthesizer BSEM built for Wesleyan University around 1974. This was basically Bob Snowdale's initiative; he came to us from W.U. having studied with Alvin Lucier there. Later, of course, Snowdale went on to found Aries."

    Somewhere there was also a big customized Moog synthesizer that we (BSEM) installed at UMass Boston in the mid 70's. Bob Moog himself came, and after it was set I enjoyed driving him back to the airport and hanging out with him while waiting for his flight.

    ReplyDelete
  3. For Fletcher - Ron Rivera's bunny was named Pummel :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you gentlemen! I updated the post with your input. Fascinating bits of synth history.

    ReplyDelete

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