Ian Helliwell's Tone Generation

[Note: I'm not seeing how to skip episodes in the player above aside from sliding the progress bar to the end to get to the next one.]

You might remember Ian Helliwell mentioned in previous posts on the site here, including his book Tape Leaders. Atomic Shadow wrote in to let us know about his 34-part history of electronic music titled Tone Generation [player above/episode list below], as well has his work on SoundCloud.

The following is a short blurb from his website, http://www.ianhelliwell.co.uk:

"Leaving school and full time education aged 16 armed with six O-levels, Ian is a self-taught and self-funded multi-media artist, working in music, film, animation, analogue electronics, instrument building, collage, installations, live performance, light show projection, graphic design, writing and film programming.

Ian coined the term ‘creative soldering’ to best define his ‘intuitive electronics’ approach, and since the 1990s he has designed and built a unique range of electronic tone generating machines – Hellitrons and Hellisizers – which he uses to realise his compositions."

"The Tone Generation is Ian's audio series looking at the early period of electronic music history, focussing on experimental tracks mostly drawn from his CD and record collection.

TG 34 - Louis & Bebe Barron
TG 33 - Cybernetic Serendipity
TG 32 - Electronics in Space
TG 31 - Synthetic Sound
TG 30 - Beaver & Krause
TG 29 - Electronics in Rock 2
TG 28 - Electronics in Rock 1
TG 27 - Edinburgh Festival Concert 1961
TG 26 - Electronic Odyssey 1967
TG 25 - QEH Concert 1968
TG 24 - Analogue Synthesizers
TG 23 - Electronics for Feature Films
TG 22 - Moog
TG 21 - Buchla
TG 20 - Electronics and Voice
TG 19 - Women in Electronics
TG 18 - Computer Music
TG 17 - EMS
TG 16 - Electronics for Expos
TG 15 - Electronic Music Authors
TG 14 - Electronics for Dance
TG 13 - Electronics in Jazz
TG 12 - The RCA Synthesizer
TG 11 - Expo 58
TG 10 - EM Worldwide
TG 9 - Canada
TG 8 - USA
TG 7 - Soviet Union & E. Bloc
TG 6 - Scandanavia
TG 5 - Holland & Belgium
TG 4 - Italy
TG 3 - Germany
TG 2 - France
TG 1 ..."

TAPE LEADERS - Book Review & Flipthrough | Early British Music Composers & EMS Synthesizers

video upload by synth4ever

"Tape Leaders book review & flipthrough. Tape Leaders is a richly illustrated A-Z compendium featuring over 100 composers active with tape and electronics in the analogue era.

Containing information never previously uncovered, Tape Leaders shines a fresh light on many sound experimenters unacknowledged in the history of British electronic music. It also covers EMS synthesizers such as the VSC3, Synthi and others as well as BBC Radiophonic studio.

Get your copy of Tape Leaders here: https://velocitypress.uk/product/tape...

----

Tape Leaders: A Compendium Of Early British Electronic Music Composers is an indispensable reference guide for anyone interested in electronic sound and its origins in the UK. The book compiles information on practically everyone active with experimental electronics and tape recording across the country to reveal the untold stories and hidden history of early British electronic music.

With an individual entry for each composer, it covers everyone from famous names like William Burroughs, Brian Eno and Joe Meek to the ultra-obscure such as Roy Cooper, Donald Henshilwood and Edgar Vetter.

There are sections for EMS and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and amateurs, groups and ensembles that experimented with electronics, including The Beatles, Hawkwind and White Noise.

Author Ian Helliwell draws on his experience and extensive research into electronic music. After six years and dozens of interviews, he has amassed information never before brought to light on this fascinating subject.

With a specially compiled 15 track CD of mainly unreleased early British tape and synthesizer works (exclusively available to the Velocity Press shop), this is an essential book for anyone interested in electronic music history during the 1950s and 60s.

This hardback book is 22.7cm x 17.7cm, and the 224 pages are printed and bound on heavyweight 130gsm paper. You can grab a copy at

----------

TIMECODES

00:00 - Intro & Overview

00:50 - Electronic Music Composers A-Z
12:07 - Experimental Amateurs
13:20 - Electronic Music Groups
15:31 - EMS (Electronic Music Studios)
16:32 - BBC Radiophonic Workshop
17:25 - Tape Leaders CD Liner Notes
17:41 - Info, Credits & Index

19:02 - Conclusion & Final Thoughts"

Tape Leaders: A Compendium Of Early British Electronic Music Composers Gets an Update

You might remember Tape Leaders A Compendium Of Early British Electronic Music Composers posted back in 2017. It is now available with some updates.

via Velocity Press where you can find it:

Tape Leaders: A Compendium Of Early British Electronic Music Composers is a richly illustrated A-Z compendium featuring over 100 composers active with tape and electronics in the analogue era. Containing information never previously uncovered, it shines a fresh light on many sound experimenters unacknowledged in the history of British electronic music.

With an individual entry for each composer, it covers everyone from famous names like William Burroughs, Brian Eno and Joe Meek to the ultra-obscure such as Roy Cooper, Donald Henshilwood and Edgar Vetter. There are sections for EMS and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and amateurs, groups and ensembles that experimented with electronics, including The Beatles, Hawkwind and White Noise.

First published by Sound On Sound Magazine in 2016, this is the first time it’s been available outside their shop and this new edition has been extensively revised and updated. The hardback book is 22.7cm x 17.7cm landscape, and the 224 pages are printed and bound on heavyweight 130gsm paper. With a specially compiled 15 track CD of mainly unreleased early British tape and synthesizer works (exclusively available to the Velocity Press shop and free with all pre-orders), this is an essential book for anyone interested in electronic music history during the 1950s and 60s.

Ian Helliwell: "Years before investigating the work of FC Judd for the documentary Practical Electronica, it was evident there was so much early British electronic music that had never been properly researched. The idea of a book examining this formative period began to crystallize during work on the film, as interesting facts were being uncovered that fed into a much broader-based history than has ever been available. A compendium to cover not just the acknowledged figures, but also those that never get a mention, was the objective so that famous names sit alongside the unknowns, and the reader gets a sense of the vast amount of electronic music activity that was going on, which has since been ignored or forgotten about.

“The graphic design was another important consideration and has been something of a labour of love to evoke the era of tape recorders, tone generators and analogue synthesizers. Many of the photos and images have come directly from the featured composers or their families, and form an eye-catching array of illustrations to support and enhance the text."

Tape Leaders A Compendium Of Early British Electronic Music Composers

via Tape Leaders

"A Compendium Of Early British Electronic Music Composers.Published 16th June, 2016.

In the form of a richly illustrated compendium, Tape Leaders is an indispensable reference guide for anyone interested in electronic sound and its origins in Great Britain. For the first time a book sets out information on practically everyone active with experimental electronics and tape recording across the country, revealing the hidden history of early British electronic music.

With an individual entry for each composer, starting with Daevid Allen and going through to Peter Zinovieff, it covers everyone from the famous names of William Burroughs, Brian Eno and Joe Meek, to the ultra-obscure Roy Cooper, Donald Henshilwood and Edgar Vetter. There are sections for EMS and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, as well as amateurs, groups and ensembles that seriously experimented with electronics, including the Beatles, Hawkwind and White Noise.

Author Ian Helliwell draws on his experience and knowledge of electronic music, and after six years and dozens of interviews, has
amassed information never before brought to light in this fascinating subject. With a specially compiled 15-track CD of mainly unreleased early British tape and synthesizer works, this is an essential volume for anyone with an interest in the history of electronic music during the 1950s and 60s.
There is also an ebook version with electronic music extracts, to highlight the work of 25 of the featured composers.
​
220 page Book + 15 track CD - available via Sound On Sound
£29.00 + p&p.
soundonsound.com/shop"

The Simonsound - The Beam B/W In the Shadow of the Skylon Featuring

Trios - Tristram Cary (edit)

Published on Aug 30, 2013 the simonsound·35 videos

"A rare performance of the chance composition created by electronic music pioneer Tristram Cary.

Trios combines a scored performance on EMS VCS3 synthesiser (in this case prerecorded using a EMS Synthi AKS and played back on reel to reel tape) and two performers using dice to randomly decide which tracks to play from two vinyl records. For this performance CD's were used in place of the vinyl.

The dice and holders in this performance were Tristrams own, donated to Ian Helliwell.

Tape prepared by Vicky Fenlon, Ian Helliwell and Simon James. Performed by Helliwell and James at Hackney Picture House, London on 17/03/13.

Additional camera work by Stuart Heaney. Directed by Ian Helliwell."

Title - The Beam B/W In the Shadow of the Skylon
Artist - The Simonsound

Format - 10" clear vinyl with printed map/Digital download

Release date - available Now

http://thesimonsound.bandcamp.com/album/the-beam-b-w-in-the-shadow-of-the-skylon

A fantastical Monorail journey in sound

This latest release from The Simonsound is a radiophonic ride aboard their imaginary 'SS Mk I Monorail', taking in five out of this world destinations along the way. Board the Monorail and be whisked to Outer Space World, Underwater World, Inner Space, Robot World and The Land of Myths and Beasts. Exploring the more experimental aspects of their previous work, 'The Beam' is a carefully crafted electronic collage mixing Buchla, Moog and EMS synthesisers, with tape manipulated percussion and acoustic sources.

Like a souvenir record from a mid century World¹s Fair, ŒThe Beam¹ follows in the footsteps of early electronic composers such as Raymond Scott, Tristram Cary and Tom Dissevelt.

The B-side, 'In the Shadow of the Skylon' is an oscillating ode to a long lost London landmark and futuristic structure created for the Festival of Britain in 1951. Hovering over the South Bank like a UFO, the Skylon pointed into space like a sign post for what was to come. Sadly the Skylon never got to see the future it aimed to represent as it was torn down at the end of the Festival by a petty Conservative government. ŒIn the Shadow of the Skylon¹ celebrates its short optimistic life.

In addition to the standard release, there will also be 25 'Monorail Pilot's Packs' which will include the 10" coloured vinyl, a printed map, booklet and Monorail ticket, a sew on 'Pilot's Patch', a 1/4 inch magnetic tape loop and a CD featuring an extended trip into Outer Space World and outtakes from the project. These will all be housed in a letter press printed pack featuring the Simonsound Transit Authority logo on the front."

Also check out a Live Buchla 200e performance on The Simonsound here.

Practical Electronica: A Trailer

Practical Electronica: A Trailer from Public Information on Vimeo.

"A trailer for Ian Helliwell's 2011 Documentary about an important and previously untold link in the history of early British Electronic Music.

Practical Electronica- The Sound World Of F.C. Judd

Related Events:

barbican.org.uk/film/event-detail.asp?ID=12788

phoenixarts.org/exhibitions/291-practical-electronica.html

Electronics Without Tears, a 35-track compilation of F.C Judd material (fully restored and mastered at D&M Berlin) will be landing soon on Public Information.

public-info.co.uk

soundcloud.com/public-information

ianhelliwell.co.uk/"



"xcerpts from forthcoming Public Information anthology of British Electronic Music pioneer, Frederick Charles Judd.

F.C Judd- Electronics Without Tears

PUBINF003
Released 16.01.12
Limited 12" LP / Digipack CD with Booklet

More details:

fcjudd.co.uk
public-info.co.uk

Released by: Public Information
Release/catalogue number: PUBINF003
Release date: Jan 16, 2012"

via http://www.fcjudd.co.uk/ :

"In early British electronic music history, FC Judd is not the only overlooked and little discussed composer working in the late 1950s and 60s – in fact he is one of a number now largely forgotten. His unacknowledged importance hinges on a wide range of electronic activities – from his compositions, self-built synthesizer and sound visualisation system – to his books, magazine articles, radio broadcasts and lectures to amateur tape recording clubs up and down the country. Fred was the prime mover in disseminating electronic sounds and musique concrete to the general public – not just encouraging them to listen, but moreover to experiment for themselves with tape recorders and tone generators.

Frederick Charles Judd was born in 1914 in Woodford, east London, and like so many youngsters of his generation developed an early and abiding passion for radio. With the outbreak of WW2 he served in the RAF Coastal Command working with highly secret radar equipment, just as electronic music pioneer Tristram Cary was engaged in similar work in the Royal Navy. Both men were later in contact, and used their skilled engineering backgrounds to develop their musical interests through electronics. Fred had no formal musical training though he was competent on guitar and organ, and it appears that the combination of music, radio, tape recording and circuitry inevitably drew him to experimenting with electronic music during the mid-1950s."

via It's Full of Stars

Simonsound » The Tone Generation - Episode 22 - Moog

"The latest episode of The Tone Generation explores experimental (and library music in the form of Roger Roger/Cecil Leuter) music created on the Moog range of synthesisers. Don’t be expecting the usual Switched on Bach and Keith Emerson fare. As usual with The Tone Generation, its all about sharing..."

Update via Simon in the comments: "Wanted to add that the Tone Generation is researched and presented by Ian Helliwell. And the description goes on to say '.. its all about sharing some of the lesser known early electronic material from Ian Helliwell’s vast collection.'"

A Radiophonic Weekend - Bristol

Update: The event is in April, not March.

Two day event via Cube Cinema, Saturday April the 2nd and Sunday the 3rd.

"Day one of a weekend of special events, performances, screenings and more - dedicated to the output and legacy of the one and only BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

With their often primitive hand built devices, tape loops and early synth explorations, the workshop brought the sound of electronic weirdness out of the realms of academia and into the home, re-adjusting the ears and minds of an entire generation in the process. As interest in their oddly British, and often somewhat crackpot approach to electronic experimentation grows, and as many of their key instigators finally begin to gain the worldwide recognition their pioneering efforts deserve, we spend a special one-off weekend looking back on some of the characters, stories, sounds and inventions that shaped an era.

On day one (Saturday), we’re delighted to welcome very special guests - Radiophonic boffins, David Cain and Dick Mills - who will be presenting a history of the workshop, discussing their work, and presenting a wealth of material unheard for decades.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Hellitron SS1 Joystick tone generator

video upload by simonsound1

"Ian Helliwell just finished building me my very own Hellitron with joystick control, capable of producing a range of electronic tones and modulations. This is my first video exploring its functions. Expect to hear more of this in Simonsound live shows and recordings!

If you like experimental electronic music and film I would strongly suggest you go and check out Ian's website. www.ianhelliwell.co.uk

Not only is he responsible for building some very impressive electronic instruments, he is also the man behind the ongoing radio series, The Tone Generation, which celebrates the pioneers of electronic music and plays lots of rare and often overlooked compositions. Now into its 16th episode Ian is currently researching the latest installment which will focus on EMS."

The Tone Generation - Around the world in electronic sound

"This Friday sees the launch of a new simonsound produced radio series looking at the history of electronic music as a worldwide phenomenon. The 10 part series called ‘The Tone Generation’ is presented by electronic musician and film-maker Ian Helliwell. Starting in Europe and finishing in the Southern Hemisphere Ian will be playing vintage tracks - some celebrated, many obscure and overlooked, to give an overview of electronic music. Part one starts with Great Britain and features music from a number of BBC Radiophonic composers including Daphne Oram and Delia Derbyshire." More info on Simon Sound, via Music Thing.