Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone, or rather, Happy New Decade!

I want to thank everyone who visits the site, supporting members, and the sponsors you see above and to the right. You all make this site possible. So, thank you! I am humbled and grateful every day. The site will be going 15 years strong in 2020. Since then there has only been one single day w/o a post when I had no idea there would be something to post every single day. Every single post has gone up by hand, so the support is more than appreciated.

In 2019 we had a total of 13,069 posts. That comes out to an average of 35.81 posts a day, all by hand. We had 819 products new to the site, including 112 new makers, and 64 older items never featured before. You can find a breakdown of some categories here.

In 2019 we lost the following people: Alan R. Pearlman, Mark Hollis, Mike McGrath of Muff Wiggler, Philippe Zdar of Cassius, John Blacet, Carl Matthews, and Gershon Kingsley. I keep hoping for a year we do not lose anyone. These are always the hardest posts to put up for so many reasons. They never feel good enough.

---

That said, synth history continues to be made and I hope to be able to continue to capture it here on MATRIXSYNTH. The good and the bad...

I'm going to keep this post relatively short this year. I'm guessing most of you reading it are daily visitors and are more than familiar with what has, and continues to go up throughout the year. Know as long as posts go up, I am always here and I will always be a daily constant for you as long as I am able. I hope the site brings some pleasure in your daily routine. Consider the site family, but one that hopefully doesn't bother you too much. :) But don't worry, aside from the occasional post like this one, I do my best to stay out of posts, and let the content speak for itself.

Thank you for all the support! You have no idea how much it truly means. I do exist, and you all help keep me and the site moving forward.

Happy New Year everyone! Happy New Decade! :)

cheers,
matrix

First Moog Quartet

flickr by Squeakyrat

"Gershon Kingsley's First Moog Quartet, Popcorn, 1972."

Gershon Kingsley - Shabbat For The Seventies - cover

flickr By m.gross196

MOOG Demo Record

Update: see this post for the audio.
via this auction
"Ultra-rare private pressing, the first promotional recording produced by Moog, given out to prospective customers to demonstrate the capabilities of their amazing products. Both sides are identical and contain a wonderful montage of Moog-sourced sound effects and short original compositions created especially for this record by Wendy Carlos, ranging widely from experimental to classical to pop to ambient soundscapes and a real treat for collectors of her work. It is narrated by Ed Stokes who explains the different types of waves and filters available, the basics of sound synthesis, and Moog innovations like voltage control. This extremely hard to find record is an awesome artifact of early electronic music history and a gem for Moog
and Wendy Carlos fans.

Wendy Carlos studied under Vladimir Ussachevsky and Otto Luening at the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center, worked with Robert Moog to develop and popularize the synthesizer and pioneer its performance techniques, and scored films for Stanley Kubrick and Disney. Some additional points of reference for this synth demo record: Jean-Michel Jarre, Paul Beaver, Bernie Krause, Stereolab, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Mu-Ziq, Matmos, Dick Hyman, Raymond Scott, Bruce Haack, Pierre Henry, Tomita, Vangelis, Jean-Jacques Perrey, Gershon Kingsley, Tom Dissevelt, Ondioline, Theremin, Clara Rockmore, Arp, Donald Buchla, Chappell Recorded Music Library, De Wolfe, Montparnasse 2000, Patchwork, Piero Umiliani, Roger Roger, Cecil Leuter, DJ Premier, DJ Shadow, Invisibl Skratch Piklz, Oskar Sala, trautonium, Morton Subotnick, John Eaton, Donald Erb, Bernard Parmegiani, Mort Garson..."

The first recording with Minimoog synthesizer - Sun Ra – ‘My Brother The Wind’ (1970)

video upload by George Greene

"The first recording with Minimoog synthesizer (Model B prototype) - Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra – ‘My Brother The Wind’ (1970)

In 1969, Sun Ra had recorded on Moog Modular synthesizer at the New York midtown studio of Gershon Kingsley. Those recordings were issued on My Brother the Wind, Vol. 1 (although it was not titled 'Vol. 1'— it only achieved that reference after 'Vol. 2' appeared). The following year, drummer Tommy Hunter arranged a meeting between Sun Ra and synth pioneer Robert Moog in upstate Trumansburg, New York. Bob and his crew were testing prototypes of the Minimoog at that time, inviting Sun Ra to explore its sounds. A recording of this test session was made and, although not originally intended for commercial release, partly released many years later in 1992 (My Brother the Wind, Vol. 2, CD tracks 7-11: The Wind Speaks, Sun Thoughts, Journey to the Stars, World of the Myth 'I', The Design - Cosmos II). But more significantly, it was during this visit that Moog loaned Sun Ra a prototype Minimoog (Model B), several months before the commercial instrument (Model D) was introduced in March 1970. Ra immediately added the instrument to his repertoire of keyboards, later acquired a second, and featured the Minimoog prominently on many of his recordings of the early 1970s. Sun Ra sometimes played two Minimoogs at the same time to achieve a duophonic synthesizer sound.

#ElectronicMusic #SunRa #Minimoog #MyBrotherTheWind #BobMoog #Synthesizer

All rights belong to their respective owners."

You can find dditional posts mentioning Sun Ra and the Minimoog here.

You can find Sun Ra – ‘My Brother The Wind’ on Amazon here.

Found this one updating this old post, after posting AutomaticGainsay's The History of the Minimoog Prototypes. Down the rabbit hole I went...

Gershon Kingsley - Popcorn (Cuban Orchestra)

YouTube via MrHotpantsImComin. via twitter.com/nortec_fussible (Web/YouTube)
"Orquesta Cubana De Musica Moderna
Directo Desde Cuba (LP 1972)
Areito/ Movie Play
Cuba"

1972

Adebayor, por Lira

YouTube Published on Aug 7, 2012 by cultura

MATRIXSYNTH-T sighting.

"O convidado de Fernando Faro, Lira, canta ?Adebayor?, música de sua autoria, inspirada no jogador de futebol togolês Adebayor."

Googlish: "The guest of Fernando Faro, Lira sings? Adebayor? Music of his own, inspired by the Togolese footballer Emmanuel Adebayor."

The band:
Lirinha: voice and sampler
Astronauta Pinguim: Minimoog, Crumar organ, Wurlitzer 200A electronic piano and Moog theremin
Neilton Carvalho: guitar
Hugo Carranca: percussion
Angelo Medrado: percussion
Igor Medeiros: bass synthesizer

via Fabricio Carvalho aka Astronauta Pinguim.

Be sure to see previous posts featuring Fabricio Carvalho aka Astronauto Pinguim. You'll find a performance with Lirinha here, and interviews including Vince Clarke, Gershon Kingsley, Herb Deutsch, Jean Jacques Perrey and more.

Ah se não fosse o amor, por Lira

Published on Aug 7, 2012 by cultura

"Lirinha canta ?Ah se não fosse o Amor?, uma composição dele em parceria com Dan Maia."

Ela Vai dançar, por Lira

Published on Aug 7, 2012 by cultura

"Lira fala de sua peça de teatro ?Mercadorias e Futuro? e ainda canta ?Ela Vai dançar?, uma composição dele em parceria com Fábio Trummer, da banda Eddie."

My Life, Memória e Ducontra, por Lira

Published on Aug 7, 2012 by cultura

"Lira fala de seu filho de 9 anos, que compõe e canta, nos mostra um trecho de ?My Life? canta ?Memória? e ?Ducontra?."

Jean-Jacques Perrey and Dana Countryman

Box of Textures has a review of the recent Jean-Jacques Perrey and Dana Countryman show in NY. Definitely worth checking out. You'll find more images including one of the opening act, Circuit Parade.

The following is an excerpt:
"Perrey was absolutely charming and totally hilarious! He introduced every song with a story, sometimes also pointing out some of his musical partners who were in the audience (Gershon Kingsley, for example). Perrey and Countryman played mostly analog equipment. Countryman had a Prophet ’08 as his main instrument, and Perrey had a Poly Evolver Keyboard, Minimoog Model D and an Ondioline. Countryman also had an Arp 2600, but it sounded like it was constantly playing a sample and hold pattern in the background while Perrey was talking, so Countryman leaned over and switched the 2600 off."

Mondo Modular Episode 5

YouTube via scootermccrae. You can find all episodes here.
"Back-in-action after a short hiatus (note new studio set-up -- but more about that in an upcoming video), I'm finally making good on some of that Herb Deutsch footage I promised a few episodes back. I figured there was no better time to do this than around the time of what would have been his 74th birthday (May 23rd).

I'll post a couple of fun stories from Gershon Kingsley next time and then return to the familiar format (ie: my dorking around with my various knobs and patch cables).

Special thanks to the Grammy folks who recently gave some money to the Moog Foundation to try and get the various papers and prototypes in Bob's old work shed in some kind of order and will hopefully see to the future preservation of."

SY MANN - SWITCHED ON SANTA - Tijuana Christmas (1970)

YouTube via cosmocorps2000.

Don't miss the kawazy vid below. "SY MANN showed his earliest musical talent at age 6 when he began to correct mistakes, made by his older sister who was then a cello student, by reaching up to the keyboard of the family player-piano and striking the "right notes". His parents took him to a piano instructor when he was 7 and in a short time it was discovered that he possessed absolute pitch. During public school assemblies he gave demonstrations of this phenomenon to the applause and wonder of his classmates and teachers. He continued his music education at NYU. Excelling in his music studies, Sy was elected to membership in the National Honorary music fraternity, PHI MU ALPHA SINFONIA and, later, held the post of student president of the music department of NYU School of Education. Back in civilian life after almost 4 years of service, Sy returned to NYU for his B.S. degree in Music Education, now a married man and father of a baby boy. Not particularly desirous of entering the teaching field, Sy continued with performing engagements, playing for most of show business' top acts as well as stints with the bands of Alvino Ray and Benny Goodman. In 1949 he entered the radio field as staff pianist and arranger for New York's top independent station WNEW. He then established himself in the recording, jingle and film music fields. In 1954 he joined the CBS music staff and currently is pianist-arranger on the Arthur Godfrey Show where he doubles on trumpet, vibraphone, clavietta, electric harpsichord and other assorted keyboard instruments. He has contributed his talents to numerous stars like Barbra Streisand, Tiny Tim, Sammy Davis, Connie Francis. Anybody who plays piano can play The Moog Synthesizer. It is a computer like instrument with a piano keyboard. Since only one note sounds at a time to make music one needs a multi-track tape recorder to record each line of music separately. An electronic engineer is needed not only for the circuitry but also to program the millions of different sound combinations available — also each time the sound is changed The Moog has to be tuned! It takes about one hour of recording time to produce 30 seconds of listenable music. In this album Sy takes the Moog Synthesizer and creates today's electronic Christmas tree out of this new musical wonder. The Moog, a strange machine of lights, cords, inputs and outputs enters the festive world of the merriest season of all. It's a wonderful gift for today's caroleers. Sy Mann giftwraps all your Christmas favorites in the most exciting musical sound, and puts them under your glittering tree. Gift tagged to read 'Merry Christmas from The Moog!'"

SY MANN - SWITCHED ON SANTA - My Favorite Things (1970)



"MUSIC: Sy Mann - My Favorite Things from the album SWITCHED ON SANTA! (1970) One of this numerous Moog records from the past. Now the Moog plays popular xmas songs VIDEO: Scenes from Tales From The Crypt (GB 1972) Episode: All Through The House Starring Joan Collins After Joanne Clayton (Joan Collins) kills her husband on Christmas Eve, she prepares to hide his body but hears a radio announcement stating that a homicidal maniac (Oliver MacGreevy) is on the loose. She sees the maniac outside her house but can't call the police because of her husband's body. The segment ends with the maniac, dressed as Santa Claus, being let into the house by Joanne's little daughter. He strangles Joanne to death. (from Wikipedia)."

Update via Mal in the comments: "This was recorded in Jean-Jacques Perrey's Recording studio in Manhattan using his (and Gershon Kingsley's) moog modular. Jean-jacques engineered the album (uncredited) and I also believe that manny of the tracks were actually arranged and recorded by him. Also... Santa on the front cover is in fact Jean-Jacques Perrey!!!"

Moogfest 2007

"To honor Bob Moog and commemorate his groundbreaking achievements, hordes of renowned musicians and longstanding Moog users will gather in New York City on Saturday, September 22 at B.B. King's Bar & Grill in Times Square (237 w. 42nd Street between 7th & 8th Avenues) to celebrate Moogfest 2007.

This Year's Extravaganza Features...

Thomas Dolby
Jordan Rudess
Adam Holzman
Spiraling
Don Preston
Gershon Kingsley
Herb Deutsch
Erik Norlander

Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this special event are $45 and are available at the box office (212-997-4144) or at all Ticketmaster outlets.

For more inforation visit www.moogfest.com

Check out the 2006 DVD for a look at last year's action!"

Jean-Jacques Perrey Biography by Dana Countryman

via Dana Countryman

"My biography, "Passport To The Future: The Amazing Life and Music of Electronic Pop Music Pioneer Jean-Jacques Perrey", is out NOW!
312 pages, and over 250 photographs. Interviews with Angelo Badalamenti, Robert Moog, Gershon Kingsley and many more...
Available online, and in select bookstores.

Order online here:
https://www.createspace.com/3489660

More info here:
http://passport-to-the-future.com/

- Dana Countryman
http://www.danacountryman.com"

Also on Amazon.

Added to the Synth Books section.

Astronauta Pinguim with Moog Tattoo & MATRIXSYNTH T

via Fabricio Carvalho on Facebook

Be sure to catch the Astronauta Pinguim interview with Gershon Kingsley.

MATRIXSYNTH Ts

Richard Lainhart to Play Moogfest 2007

"I'm pleased and proud to announce that I will be performing with Jordan Rudess at this year's Moogfest (http://www.moogfest.net) on September 22 at B. B. King's in New York City!

What's more, I'll be bringing my new Buchla 200e/Continuum (http://www.otownmedia.com/he/buchla.htm) system to the land of the Moog for the first time.

Performers include Thomas Dolby, T Lavitz, Don Preston, Adam Holzman, Gershon Kingsley, Herb Deutsch, and many other pioneers and practitioners of the art of Moog synthesis, so it should be an evening of diverse and exciting music. I hope to see you there."

Be sure to check out these posts.

Sun Ra & the History of the Minimoog at The Bob Moog Foundation

The Bob Moog Foundation has a post up featuring Sun Ra & the history of the first Minimoog.  Sun Ra was given a prototype Model B. The later Model D was the released production model. You can find a couple of videos of Sun Ra with the prototype Model B here and an audio interview with an image of the prototype here.

"In 1969, a year before the introduction of the Minimoog, Sun Ra became familiar with Bob Moog’s modular studio synthesizer. He was given a demonstration in New York by Gershon Kingsley.[i] Sun Ra first met Robert Moog after Downbeat journalist and Sun Ra acquaintance Tam Fiofori arranged for a visit to Moog’s factory in Trumansburg in the Fall of 1969. [ii] This was most likely October. Bob and his crew were testing prototypes of the Minimoog at that time, inviting Sun Ra to explore its sounds. A recording of this test session was made and, although not originally intended for commercial release, partly released many years later in 1992 as the 'Moog Experiment' (My Brother the Wind, Vol. 2, CD tracks 7-11, Evidence Records.) But more significantly, it was during this visit that Moog loaned Sun Ra a prototype Minimoog (Model B), several months before the commercial instrument (Model D) was introduced in March 1970...

What is perhaps most interesting about this encounter is that the Minimoog was still an untested idea—at least in the mind of Bob Moog. The development of a portable synthesizer was a risk for his small company. But Sun Ra’s enthusiasm was one of the first indications that a veteran live performer found promise in the new instrument."

Read the full post at The Bob Moog Foundation here.


In related Bob Moog Foundation News:
Samoogarai T-shirt Comes to Life
Dr Bob's SoundSchool Expands to Rural Madison County

And don't forget, the 2014 BMF Calendar makes a great stocking stuffer!

The Model by Kraftwerk - live cover by Hyperdust

YouTube via hyperdust7 | November 20, 2010

"http://www.intensemusic.co.uk
A live cover of the track The Model by Kraftwerk. Performed by Hyperdust - James Bragg at a small musical gathering in a pub in Bristol UK. I've just bought myself a new synth - Mopho by Dave Smith instruments. Very pleased with it - small, great sounding, well feautured, very easy to control live. People seem to respond very positively to early 80's electro covers - they don't get performed often. I might try some Numan next time."

Update:

CLICK FOR MORE »

An Interview with David Van Koevering on Astronauta Pinguim

via Fabricio Carvalho on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

"David was one of the main [people] responsible for the Mini Moog becoming a very popular instrument in the early seventies, when he decided to travel thru the USA demonstrating and selling the instrument. David Van Koevering was also the developer of the Orchestron, an instrument that was based on Mattel's Optigan, that became very famous when musicians like Patrick Moraz and Kraftwerk members used in their records!"

You'll find the interview on Astronauta Pinguim here.

Pictured:

Top: "On stage: David Van Koevering (2nd from left) and Robert Moog (seated)."

"ASTRONAUTA - How did you meet Robert Moog for the first time?

DAVID - I was traveling and doing musical educational programs in the public schools. There is a picture of my educational presentation in Trevor Pinch's book "Analog Days". I saw an ad in the Music Educators Journal that had a photo of the R. A. Moog Studio in Trumansburg, NY which said "Come Visit Our Backroom". I was performing in the area and decided to visit. Bob Moog was in Europe so I did not meet him then. Awhile later I was performing at a school in Long Island, NY and the principal said "I want you to meet Bob Moog". He had come from Trumansburg, NY to meet me and see and hear my show. Bob and I talked about the last song on my show where I performed on a "Theremin". I had made it from and article that Bob had published in an electronics magazine. After meeting Bob that day he asked if I would like to join him and his family at Carnegie Hall in New York City. It was the first ever live performance of the "Moog Quartet" with Gershon Kingsley. During that concert something switched on in my spirit, I knew I needed to be involved! I had a huge audience and showing the future of music to the younger generation became my goal."

Left: David Van Koevering with Moog theremin.

www.davidvankoevering.com

Mondo Modular Episode 2

YouTube via scootermccrae
"Yet another bold journey into an audio world where many have tread before and even fewer haven't... (wait a minute -- this doesn't make any sense?!?)

Anyway, just me again getting some cool sounds out of my truly amazing modular sound generating system.

Please bear with me and in an episode or two I'll post some video of electronic music giants like Herb Deutsch, Gershon Kingsley and Bernie Kraus that I've shot over the years.

See the rewards that lie ahead for making it throught these punishing viewings? Who sez I'm not a pussycat sweetheart?"

Bob Moog Foundation Announces "Moog Is Now" at Moogfest 2012

Bob Moog Foundation Announces “Moog Is Now” Exhibit and Sale At Moogfest 2012

October 19, 2010 - For Immediate Release (Asheville, NC) - The Bob Moog Foundation and David VanKoevering have joined forces to bring “Moog Is Now”, an exhibit and sale of vintage Moog inspired albums, to Moogfest 2012. The event will celebrate the early use of Moog synthesizers in popular music, with recordings from as early as 1967 to the late 1970s. "Moog Is Now" will be presented throughout the weekend in the Diana Wortham Theatre lobby in downtown Asheville. It is open to Moogfest attendees and to the general public

Over 300 albums will be for sale from VanKoevering’s private collection, some signed by Bob Moog. The signed albums will be part of an exclusive silent auction. More than 70 additional albums will be displayed in an exhibit created by the Foundation. Part of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Bob Moog Foundation.

The title of the event originates from a slogan that VanKoevering used in his marketing effort for the Minimoog in the 1970s, emphasizing the synergy of the 1970s cultural revolution and innovative Moog technology.

Acquired over decades, the collection on display and for sale will include recordings from such artists as: Wendy Carlos, Jean-Jacques Perry, Gershon Kingsley, Mort Garson, Isao Tomita, Keith Emerson, the Beatles, Kraftwerk, Michael Iceberg, Harry Brewer, Ralph Carmichael, Chick Corea, Paul Beaver, Bernie Krause and Jan Hammer. Each album will be sold with a Certificate of Authenticity.

David VanKoevering is a lifelong colleague and friend of Bob Moog. He began working with R.A. Moog, Co. shortly before the Minimoog was first developed. When the Minimoog was released, and met with initial mild success, VanKoevering pioneered the sale of the instrument, opening the market from a few hundred instruments to several thousand. His marketing saavy, legendary within the industry, has led him to be referred to as the man who brought the Minimoog to the world.

In his later career, Music Trades and other industry publications heralded VanKoevering’s collaboration with Bob Moog on an innovative interactive piano stating “Synth pioneers Bob Moog and David VanKoevering team up on interactive CD based piano.” Bob Moog is quoted as stating “Never before has so much technology been introduced in a single instrument” about the piano.

"Moog Is Now" will be open in the Diana Wortham Theater lobby from 12-6 on Friday and Saturday of Moogfest and Sunday from 1-5.. VanKoevering will be present during those hours. The Bob Moog Foundation will also be hosting Dr. Bob's Interactive Sonic Experience and SYNTH: A Group Art Show Inspired By Bob Moog, in the Theatre lobby throughout the weekend."

And Interview with Hans-Joachim Roedelius of Kluster / Cluster & Eno

Hans-joachim Roedelius birthday is today, October 26. Fabricio Carvalho wrote in on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge to let us know he has an interview up on Astronauta Pinguim here. It's a fascinating read so do not miss it.

On the instruments first used: "We used electric organs, cello, guitar, kneeviola, tonegenerators, echomachines and many mostly selfbuilt little electronic devices in the beginning. Brian when he came to our place brought one of the first synths that existed at the time but nothing else, so he played this synth, guitar, bass and he sang. It was not him who produced that album it were the four of us first with/on a fourtrack tapemachine that Michael Rother provided..."

BTW, after you finish the interview, be sure to check out his others.  You can find them by doing a quick search on "Interview" on the top left Blogger search box on the site.  You'll find interviews with John Eaton, Gershon Kingsley, Hereb Deutsch, Vince Clarke and more.