Vintage synth featured in 1957 film "Different from You and Me."

video upload by Robotussin Vintage Synths

"The dangers of electronic music, according to a film about the menace of homosexuality from 1957 called 'Different From You and Me'. It features the Trautonium, a synthesizer from the 1930s that was created by Friedrich Trautwein and used by Oskar Sala. The film, which was called 'The Third Sex' or 'Bewildered Youth'(!) when released in the US, is about a prosperous German family whose son is lured into a seedy world of gay men, nude wrestling and avant garde electronic music by an effete friend and a licentious antique dealer.

Terrified that their son is not into women, the teen's parents induce their cleaning lady to seduce him and awaken his more 'natural' desires. This ends in the month's arrest for arranging prostitution!

While the film is based on homophobic ideas, the original version has some nuance and depicts some of its gay characters in a relatively balanced light for the time. Being gay was still a crime in Germany and elsewhere in the 1950s. However, before it could be released in West Germany censors insisted on changes, weaving in more anti-gay rhetoric, making the gay characters more criminal and removing scenes that showed gay men in positions of authority and respectability.

For me, it's remarkable only for the scenes featuring the synthesizer, but it is interesting that even then electronic music was associated with same-sex relationships, given that 20 years later the gay communities would be such a driving force behind the foundation of the electronic music scene.

I have uploaded all the scenes from this film that feature the Trautonium to my YouTube channel, which is also called Robotussin Vintage Synths."

A Demonstration Of Oskar Sala's Mixtur-Trautonium

Published on Nov 4, 2015 Ghost Money

Playlist [descriptions below]:
A Demonstration Of Oskar Sala's Mixtur-Trautonium Formant Filters
Improvisation for modular mixtur-trautonium.
Contrary Motion Studies for Modular Mixtur-Trautonium

1. A Demonstration Of Oskar Sala's Mixtur-Trautonium Formant Filters

A demonstration of the mixtur-trautonium's formant filters. The filter was originally designed by Freidrich Trautwein as vacuum tube (or rohrentechnik) technology in 1930, at the very beginnings of subtractive synthesis.( I mistakenly referred to subharmonic synthesis in my closing remarks) The filters here are version of the design from the halbeiter, or semiconductor mixtur trautonium dating from around 1989 and were made by Trautoniks. For further information, interviews with Oskar Sala, explanations of the instrument and musical examples visit Trautonist at:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Trautonist

Also:

http://www.trautoniks.de/

http://trautonium.de/

© James Worthington 3 Nov 2015

2. Improvisation for modular mixtur-trautonium.

Published on Oct 15, 2014
An improvisation for mixtur trautonium. Timbral variations effected by voltage control of the assigned footpedals. The manuals, subharmonic generators and formant filters supplied by Trautoniks.
Other modules in the system by Doepfer, Analogue Systems and MOTM-Syntheisis technology.

3. Contrary Motion Studies for Modular Mixtur-Trautonium

Published on Oct 15, 2014
Two short improvisations for mixtur-trautonium, demonstrating possibilities for contrary motion portamento performance. Manuals, subharmonic generators and formant filters supplied by Trautoniks. Other modules in this system by Analogue Systems Doepfer and MOTM-Synthesis technology.

4. Meadow Clary

Published on Feb 11, 2016
A piece in development.

Oskar Sala's Mixtur-Trautonium at the Musikinstrumenten-Museum

More pics and the full write-up at the Nervous Squirrel

"During a visit to Berlin for the Worldtronics 2013 festival, I popped in to the Museum of Musical Instruments for a look around. They have an awesome collection of acoustic instruments, musical machines, musical walking sticks, microtonal pianos, Hammond organs, a "serpent", a VCS3 with sequencer and a violin in the shape of amoeba. I'd previously read about the Trautonium, and was aware of it being "something like an Ondes Martenot", but the one at the museum invited a much closer investigation..."

Electrische piano: Trautonium (1941)

YouTube Uploaded by BeeldenGeluid on Oct 16, 2010

"In Den Haag wordt door Oskar Sala een demonstratie gegeven van de klanken van een nieuw elektronisch muziekinstrument, de Trautonium. De speeltafel van dit instrument is vergelijkbaar met die van een pijporgel. Het heeft twee 'manualen' die met de vingers worden bespeeld. De normale configuratie van zwarte en witte toetsen ontbreekt echter. De Duitser Zaun geeft een toelichting. Sala speelt op het instrument een stukje muziek en wordt daarbij begeleid door een pianist.
Deze video of jouw TV-favoriet op DVD bestellen?
Ga naar: http://www.beeldengeluid.nl/tvfavoriet"

Googlish:
"In The Hague by Oskar Sala, a demonstration of the sounds of a new electronic musical instrument, Trautonium. The console of this instrument is similar to that of a pipe organ. It has two 'manuals' that are played with the fingers. The normal configuration of black and white keys missing. The German Zaun explains. Sala plays the instrument on a piece of music and is being accompanied by a pianist.
This video or your favorite TV on DVD order?
Jump to: http://www.beeldengeluid.nl/tvfavoriet "

Oskar Sala - Mixtur-Trautonium Videos

Unfortunately no embedding on these so you'll have to watch them on YouTube:

Oskar Sala spielt auf seinem Mixtur-Trautonium
Oskar Sala - Mixtur-Trautonium - Klang und Verwendung
Oskar Sala - Portrait 1993

These in via rustyanalog. See the Trautonium and Oskar Sala labels at the bottom of this post for more.




Update via elgauchoandres in the comments:
"love all those old videos from the Trautonist Youtube channel
featuring Oskar Sala.

I think the oldest video on Youtube featuring Oskar Sala is:"

Electrische piano: Trautonium (1941)

YouTube via BeeldenGeluid | Oct 16, 2010 |

"In Den Haag wordt door Oskar Sala een demonstratie gegeven van de klanken van een nieuw elektronisch muziekinstrument, de Trautonium. De speeltafel van dit instrument is vergelijkbaar met die van een pijporgel. Het heeft twee 'manualen' die met de vingers worden bespeeld. De normale configuratie van zwarte en witte toetsen ontbreekt echter. De Duitser Zaun geeft een toelichting. Sala speelt op het instrument een stukje muziek en wordt daarbij begeleid door een pianist.
Deze video of jouw TV-favoriet op DVD bestellen?
Ga naar: http://www.beeldengeluid.nl/tvfavoriet"

Googlish:
"In The Hague by Oskar Sala, a demonstration of the sounds of a new electronic musical instrument, Trautonium. The console of this instrument is similar to that of a pipe organ. It has two 'manuals' that the fingers are played. The normal configuration of black and white keys missing. The German Zaun explains. Sala plays the instrument a piece of music and is being accompanied by a pianist.
This video or your favorite TV on DVD order?
Jump to: http://www.beeldengeluid.nl/tvfavoriet"

NOISECOLLECTIVE Vistis Berlin

More pics at NOISECOLLECTIVE



Top: SchneidersLaden
Middle: ?
Bottom: EMS Synthi Sequencer 256

Update via elgauchoandres in the comments:
"Middle is Mixturtrautonium nach Oskar Sala.
Botton picture also show (partially) a Clavioline.
Pictures from the Musikintrumenten Museum Berlin, I think... 99%"

A few more pics added below for the archives via NOISECOLLECTIVE. Volkstrautonium added as well.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Friedrich Trautwein, das Trautonium & Oskar Sala (1/2)

YouTube via MMJzzzMORPHMEN. via rustyanalog
See the video details for extensive info in German, Googlish translation here.

"Time signal: 11 August 1888: August 1888:
Geburtstag des Ingenieurs Friedrich Trautwein Birthday of the engineer Friedrich Trautwein (WDR podcast)

The musical invention of the engineer Friedrich Trautwein now enjoys cult status. Sein Trautonium von 1930 ist der Prototyp His Trautonium of 1930 is the prototype now enjoys cult status. Sein Trautonium von 1930 ist der Prototyp His Trautonium of 1930 is the prototype today's synthesizer, an electronic sound generator, the Paul Hindemith inspired and Hitchcock's birds gave ominous sounds.

Authors: Veronica Bock and Ulrich Biermann"

Friedrich Trautwein, das Trautonium & Oskar Sala (2/2)


See the Trautonium label below for more, and do not miss the recent Moogtonium post.

Oskar Sala - Elektronische Impressionen Nr.1

www.blurfilm.wspaniali.net

Moogtonium Documentation Discovered in Bob's Archives

via The Bob Moog Foundation

"As you all know by now, one of our three projects is preserving and protecting Bob's extensive archives. The archives are full of various mediums, but today we focus on letters and schematics that have given way to an exciting discovery about a little known instrument that Bob worked on in 1966.

Visit our website to read the full article on this amazing discovery.

We recently uncovered a stack of letters, notes and schematics describing Bob's work on a version of a Mixture-Trautonium, which he and the musician-collaborator Max Brand deemed the "Moogtonium". You can read much more about this fascinating instrument in a blog post written by Michelle Moog-Koussa, Brian Kehew and Clemens Hausch.

You can hear the sounds of this instrument on the newly release album "Kabelbrand: Sounds from the Max Brand Synthesizer", with compositions by musicians devoted to Brand's musical legacy and by Max Brand himself. We are offering this CD as a gift with a $30 donation to the Bob Moog Foundation. Get your copy today."

You might remember the Max Brand synthesizer from this post and this event featuring the system back in November of 2009. Also see this performance by Oskar Sala on the original Trautonium. As always, you can find additional posts via the labels below. Do not miss the full Bob Moog Foundation article on the Moogtonium.

Oskar Sala - Zeilgalerie in Frankfurt, 1993

YouTube via djaiyo.

via rustyanalog Don't miss this bit of synth history.

"From christian moeller's website, www.christian-moeller.com

Sala, a pioneer of electronic music played his Trautonium, an early electronic musical instrument invented in Berlin in 1930.
For this live performance, his concert was displayed as a gigantic video projection above the urban flow. The metal façade of the Zeilgalerie was turned into a giant TV screen in the public space."
This one originally posted at 7:19 PM, 3/2. Moving on top for a bit. Don't miss this.
See the Trautonium label directly below for more.

Update via Rick Jelliffe:
"The thing is that Sala extended the Trautonium (a playing device) with his own synthesis system: subharmonic synthesis. It is a Mixturtrautonium!

This allows much more chord-like notes to be created, with four subharmonics. So while he can only play one note at a time on the lower manual, that note goes to four subharmonic generators. He can select different sets of subharmonics (/12, /13, /14 etc) with a knee controller, if necessary. Because these can be written down, it allowed him to set up patches and replay compositions much more quickly than later modular VC systems.

The subharmonic system favours some kinds of chords (dim 7s for example), which explains some aspects of his compositions.

I have made a free VST using subharmonic synthesis that is available on the WWW. Like Sala's it has a frequency shifter, reverb and some resonators, and can switch between sets of subharmonics. The Neumixturtrautonium VST is available from lots of places on the web, and it has a sound of its own.

I believe Doepfer have a subharmonic module too, as may some other people.

Cheers
Rick Jelliffe"

MAX BRAND SYNTHESIZER aka MOOGTONIUM live part 1 @ ARS ELECTRONICA festival

YouTube via klubmoozak

"Benedikt Guschlbauer & Uli Kühn improvise on the Max Brand Synthesizer (aka Moogtonium) live at the Ars Electronica Festival 2009 in Linz, Austria.

This rare synthesizer prototype built by Bob Moog in 1967 is a Moog's unique interpretation of a Trautonium, and was built for the Austrian Composer of avantgare electronics Max Brand. To hear more of this incredible machine, please check out the cd "Kabelbrand - Sounds from the Max Brand Synthesizer", released on the Label Moozak:
http://moozak.org/releases/mzk002/mzk..."

Update:

MAX BRAND SYNTHESIZER aka MOOGTONIUM live part 2 @ ARS ELECTRONICA festival 2009

Early Bob Moog - the "Max Brand Synthesizer"

YouTube via klubmoozak.

"bob moog prototype max brand synthsizer"

via Brian Kehew

"The Bob Moog Foundation have recently connected with the people working with Max Brand's early modular synth. Built in the late '60s, Brand had emigrated to America from Germany and asked Bob to design him a synth. Brand's idea was to make a Moog modular that had features of the Mixturtrautonium he had played in Germany. It took some time, but Bob created a unique synth for Brand.

Soon, there will be a CD compilation of modern artists creating music with the old Max Brand Moog. Also included will be a few of Brand's own works on the synth (1970s). I was not familiar with him before this contact, but I really think his music is among the best of the experimental-side composers of the Eletctronic Music era. It's pretty out-there, but full of good sonic ideas and he had good control of the synth, unlike a lot of early musicians."

MAX BRAND synth


"early synth built by BOB MOOG between 1967-1969 for the austrian composer MAX BRAND (1886-1980). Please note that this video is intended to show the machine - the included audio track does NOT demonstrate it's capabilities - most of the audio being heard on this video is not even from this machine! Video by Ulrich Kühn"

Eisenlager - Trautonium

YouTube via Glasklinge. "Eisenlager Video" Anyone know more about Eisenlager?

Nosferatu


"Nosferatu (1922) Originally released in 1922 as Nosferatu, Eine Symphonie Des Grauens, director F.W. Munarau's chilling and eerie adaption of Stoker's Dracula is a silent masterpiece of terror which to this day is the most striking and frightening portrayal of the legend. Director: F.W. Murnau"

Trautonium DIY

Update: some related videos I found

neon lamp trautonium

YouTube via horchacha
"oskar sala is turning in his grave - trautonium using neon lamps (bulbs), amped and distorted by beam modulator tubes and discriminators - all lfos/suboctive generation by neon lights"

Trautonium I Don't Have Anymore

Here is an old video of one of several identical trautoniums I made and sold a few years ago. The guts are a 2D21 thyratron tube going into a 6C4 preamp tube.

Old Trautonium I Sold A While Back

YouTube via jerryampguy
"This is my first time testing a video upload here. I had this old video of a trautonium I sold a while back left over from when I sold it and have long since removed it from my website. Just testing out stuff for You Tube!"

Another Old Trautonium I Sold A While Back

Mixtur Trautonium on Abstract Projection

Abstract Projection has a post up on the Mixtur Trautonium in the Musical Instrument Museum in Berlin. You can find the post including more images and info here. The Volkstrautonium (bottom image) is mentioned as well as an interview with Oskar Sala. via 24db in the comments of this 2006 post on Das Subharchord.






Oskar Sala - Elektronische Impressionen Nr.1 - YouTube via muza3

"www.blurfilm.wspaniali.net"
Search on Oskar for all posts and of course click on the labels below for more.

Zia Ribbon Controlling Phantastron

YouTube via sheepslinky
"Demonstrating the new Zia Ribbon Controller and the Phantastron from Electric Western.

This setup is played much like a Trautonium. A ribbon controls the pitch and volume is controlled with a foot pedal.

Technical Setup:

The ribbon CV is fed into a Solid State 1V/oct oscillator which is fed to the sync input of the Phantastron. Audio is taken from the Phantastron only and delay is added.
Volume is controlled by a Roland expression pedal that plugs into the Zia Ribbon's circuits (which are on the desk behind me) and controls a VCA.

The ribbon shown is a prototype, and the nice wooden case has not been built yet..."

Canned Music in Theatres

Ban the Robots!

I'm making the exception for this one as the synth content if any is unknown as I put this up. According to the link title, this is from March 9, 1931 the source image.

I'm curious exactly what this petition refers to. If you look at 120 Years, you can see a number of electronic instruments that were out at the time including the Theremin, Theremin Chello, Trautonium, and the Ondes Matenot amongst others. Fascinating stuff.

Thanks goes to Mark for sending this one in.

EMS VCS3 - Synthi Sequencer + Trautonium

More images and info on Califaudio.

Top: EMS Synthi Sequencer 256
Bottom: The Trautonium

Principles and Practice of Electronic Music by G. Trythall

images via this auction

Pictured:
MOOG Synthesizer IIIp
ARP 2600
MOOG Minimoog
Buchla Electric Music Box

Description:
""A Fundamental Approach to Understanding the New Sound Sources Covering Both the Technical and the Creative Aspects of Sound Synthesis".

From 1973. First Printing!

Contents include:
- Forward by Robert A. Moog!
- Chapters covering Basic Acoustics, Principles of Electronics, Electronic Circuits (filters, ring modulators, mixers, amps, oscillators, wave generators &more), The Function and Operation of Electronic Music Modules, Procedures for Electronic Sound Synthesis (Analog, Additive, Subtractive, Timbre, Amplitude, Frequency, Resonant Filter, Digital Sound), Tape Recording, Tape Editing and Mixing, Getting Started, Form and Notation in Electronic Music, and A Brief History of Electronic Music (Early Developments, The 1950's, Synthesizers, Computers and the Future).

Amazing pictures of analog & modular synthsizers! Pictures of the Synthi 100, Telharmonium, Trautonium, RCA Theremin with Tone Cabinet, Ondes Martenot, Moog Synthesizer IIIp, The MiniMoog Synthesizer, Arp 2500, Buchla Electric Music Box 101, Buchla Electric Music Box 200, and more!

Book includes 7 inch vinyl record! The sleeve is glued on the back inside cover and reads: "This envelope contains the 45 recorded sound examples listed in Chapters I, II, and V". The record is in great condition and comes in a 7 inch sleeve within the sleeve attached to the book. Check out the videos to hear what the record sounds like:"


Principles and Practice of Electronic Music Book & Record 01


Principles and Practice of Electronic Music Book & Record 02

Synthesizer Von Gestern - Roland System 700 Recording

This one via Jeff and Mark Pulver on AH. The direct link to the recording is here, courtesy of Jeff and posted on the MIDIWall gear page by Mark Pulver. Be sure to check out the MIDIWall gear page for more synth goodness. You might recognize the name Synthesizer Von Gestern from these prior posts.

Update via peterwendt in the comments:
"Great. I have the vol. 1 and vol. 2 CDs that include this track. I love listening to them and I think they give a good account of the characters of the instruments that I know. Vol. 2 includes the System 700 and a wonderful performance by Oskar Sala on his Mixtur-Trautonium.

There is a vol. 3 disc that I really want (Buchla, Prophet VS, ...).

The German CD label has interesting pages on the CDs and the project here:
http://www.originaltonwest.de/vintage%20synths%20vol.1.html
http://www.originaltonwest.de/vintage%20synths%20vol.2.html
http://www.originaltonwest.de/vintage%20synths%20vol.3.html

Dang. If only I had bought that System 700 cheap in Japan."

links also via Jeff on AH.

Doepfer A-104 Trautonium Filter

via this auction

"A-104 is a fourfold formant filter as used in the Mixtur Trautonium by Oskar Sala. It is made of four parallel resonance filters, each filter can be switched to low pass or band pass or off. Frequency, resonance and level are controlled for each filter separately (no voltage control). The frequency range for the filters is about 50Hz...5kHz. The filter audio inputs are very sensitive so that distortion may intentionally be used to create new sounds - if desired. The A-104 is a versatile module for sound modification. In the first place it is used for reproduction of resonances (e.g. the vocal-like effects known from the Trautonium). In combination with the subharmonic generator A-113, the Trautonium Manual A-198 and some other A-100 modules one obtains a Trautonium replica."