Electronic Voyages: Early Moog Recordings 1964-1969 - Compilation LP Preview

Published on May 4, 2019 Waveshaper Media

Update: see the second embed further below.

"Available exclusively from our Bob Moog documentary Indiegogo campaign: https://igg.me/at/electronicvoyager

Electronic Voyages: Early Moog recordings 1964-1969
(Waveshaper Media - WSM-03 vinyl LP)

A1. Robert Arthur Moog - The Abominatron (1964)
A2. Herbert Deutsch - Jazz Images, A Worksong And Blues (1967)
A3. Joel Chadabe - Blues Mix (1966)
B1. Lothar and the Hand People - Milkweed Love (1968)
B2. Intersystems - Changing Colours (1968)
B3. Ruth White - The Clock (1969)
B4. Max Brand - Triptych (1969)
B5. Paul Earls - Monday Music (1968)

In support of their forthcoming Bob Moog documentary Electronic Voyager, Waveshaper Media have produced a compilation LP of Moog recordings from the 1960s. The first compilation of its kind, Electronic Voyages: Early Moog recordings 1964-1969 contains tracks by Robert Arthur Moog, Herbert Deutsch, Joel Chadabe, Lothar and the Hand People, Intersystems, Ruth White, Max Brand, and Paul Earls. All of these tracks, released here on vinyl in an edition of 1000 copies, have been scarcely heard and difficult to track down, with all but three of them previously unreleased on vinyl.

Bypassing the Moog synthesizer’s backseat appearance on key pop recordings by the likes of the Beatles, the Doors, and the Beach Boys, Electronic Voyages aims to highlight the diverse approach of 1960s musicians and composers who adopted the Moog as their primary instrument; these recordings all feature the Moog synthesizer front and centre. Beginning with an “audio letter” (The Abominatron) from Bob Moog to his musician-muse Herbert Deutsch, demonstrating some of the first Moog synthesizer prototype’s capabilities, Electronic Voyages veers from avant-garde and electronic soundscapes, to psychedelic madness and summer-of-love pop. In the 1960s, the Moog synthesizer was a new, groundbreaking instrument, and its use was completely uncharted territory. The pioneering use of the Moog on all of these recordings sounds fresh today - you can sense the wide-eyed exploratory delight unfolding, and the disparate results range from endearingly naive (Lothar and the Hand People, Paul Earls) to downright eerie (Ruth White, Intersystems).

The musicians and composers behind these Electronic Voyages may have been among the first to adopt Moog synthesizers, but the fact that they so readily found within them expressivity, heart, and a means to translate their wondrous sense of discovery, speaks far more to Bob Moog’s visionary invention and enduring legacy."

Update: Playlist of releases in different order:



Robert Arthur Moog - The Abominatron (1964) - from "Electronic Voyages" LP
Ruth White - The Clock (1969) - from "Electronic Voyages: Early Moog recordings 1964-1969" LP
Intersystems - Changing Colours (1968) - from "Electronic Voyages" LP
Lothar and the Hand People - Milkweed Love (1968) - from "Electronic Voyages" LP
Joel Chadabe - Blues Mix (1968) - from "Electronic Voyages: Early Moog recordings 1964-1969" LP
Paul Earls - Monday Music (1968) - from "Electronic Voyages" LP
Max Brand - Triptych (1969) - from "Electronic Voyages: Early Moog recordings 1964-1969" LP

Bob Moog Foundation Features Two Compilations by Pioneering Synthesist Joel Chadabe.

via the Bob Moog Foundation

"We are proud feature two new compilations of music by internationally recognized pioneering synthesist Joel Chadabe. The albums, Electric Sound and Chadabe & Moog, which include compositions from 1966-1987, will be available through the Foundation’s online store. All proceeds from the sale of the CDs will benefit its educational and historic preservation projects."

Chadabe was an early adaptor of the Moog modular synthesizer, using it in compositions as early as 1966. In 1967, while director of the Electronic Music Studio at State University of New York at Albany, he proposed the concept for a new electronic music system. He then designed the legendary CEMS (Coordinated Electronic Music Studio) System and, with support from a SUNY research grant, commissioned Robert Moog to build it..."

KISS2016: A New Level of Interaction, Joel Chadabe

KISS2016: A New Level of Interaction, Joel Chadabe from Symbolic Sound on Vimeo.

"Kyma’s ability to play complex algorithms in real time creates new musical opportunities for realtime decision-making in improvisational processes, all of which results in the emergence of new musical formats."

Be sure to check out previous posts with Joel Chadabe, including a rare interview with Astronauta Pinguim.

Electronic Music Review No. 4 October 1967. 48 Pages. Distribution by R.A. Moog

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Note, Tristram Cary's EMScope and Kurt Stone, Joel Chadabe's The Synket are featured.

Anyone know more about the EMScope? It doesn't appear to have been mentioned on the site before now.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Electronic Voyager: Discovering Bob Moog Documentary From the Makers of I Dream of Wires & the BMF

via The Bob Moog Foundation

"We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Waveshaper Media, the producers of the acclaimed modular documentary “I Dream of Wires”, on a new film about Bob Moog, Electronic Voyager.

A Kickstarter campaign in support of Electronic Voyager has begun.

In association with the Wave Shaper, we aim to create a definitive and personal documentary about the life of Bob Moog. Through the eyes of our Executive Director and Bob’s own daughter, Michelle Moog-Koussa – also a dedicated Moog archivist and historian – we will give viewers an insight into the man behind the iconic Moog brand.

Electronic Voyager takes us on a sonic journey into the often unpredictable life and stunning brilliance of Bob Moog, a man who ‘fell backwards on a banana peel’ into the music instrument business, as well as the psychedelic world of the 1960s music scene. Bob unwittingly revolutionized the face of music, and helped birth an enduring industry.

With Michelle Moog-Koussa as our guide, we are in a very unique position to tell Bob Moog’s story in a new and profound way – from the perspective of his own daughter, who has not only a deep personal connection to Bob Moog, but also a firm dedication to his work and legacy. Bob’s friends, associates and admirers open up when they speak to Michelle about her father, leading to uniquely candid, revealing and joyous stories and insights about Bob Moog.

Electronic Voyager documents a special personal journey for Michelle, to trace her father’s iconic story – visiting the places and meeting the people who were a part of Moog’s history. With exclusive access to unseen family photos and rare historical artifacts from the Bob Moog Foundation Archives, Electronic Voyager opens a window for the outside world to better understand the man behind the legendary Moog synthesizer.

Support the Kickstarter campaign here.

The recent, tragic passing of Bob Moog’s close friend and important collaborator, Keith Emerson – perhaps the most iconic Moog keyboardist – was just another reminder of how important it is to document Bob Moog’s crucial chapter in the history of electronic music, NOW. We are turning to Kickstarter – a direct link to Bob Moog’s friends, admirers and fans – to help us get to work on this important documentary as soon as possible.

Confirmed participants include:

Early electronic music pioneers: Herb Deutsch, Morton Subotnick, Bernie Krause (Beaver & Krause, Moog modular session musician – George Harrison, The Doors), Joel Chadabe, David Borden (Mother Mallard’s Portable Masterpiece Company).

Contemporary Moog musicians: Moby, Adrian Utley (Portishead, Moog Ensemble).

Friends and music industry contemporaries: Dave Smith (Sequential Circuits), Tom Oberheim, Roger Linn, Dave Rossum (E-mu), Mark Vail (Keyboard Magazine), David Mash (Berkelee College of Music), Dominic Milano (Keyboard Magazine), Wayne Kirby (University of North Carolina – Asheville).

Session musicians, composers, technicians: Patrick Gleeson (Herbie Hancock, film composer), Greg Phillenganes (Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson), Edd Kalehoff (tv/film composer), Michael Boddicker (Michael Jackson, film composer), Will Alexander (Keith Emerson’s synth tech).

Moog employees/collaborators: Bill Hemsath, David VanKoevering, Tom Rhea, Roger Luther, Greg Hockman, Tom Gullo, Dale Ong.

As with any great Kickstarter campaign, we are offering a host of exciting perks, many of which are limited to the campaign and are not available elsewhere. Read all about them and get more details about the project here:

http://tinyurl.com/ElectronicVoyagerKickstarter

Please join us on this incredible journey, the sonic journey of Bob Moog!"

An Interview with Bruno Spoerri on Astronauta Pinguim

Update: in case you read this post when it first went up, be sure to give it another look for a few updates.  It's a bit convoluted with quite a few tangents, but that's how it goes sometimes.

Read the full interview on Astronauta Pinguim here.

The following are some excerpts and tie-ins to other bits of synth history.

-----

Initially a saxophone player, Bruno Spoerri explored electronic music in the 1960s on.

"In 1964 he was invited to a job in an advertising agency and began to work with electronic music using a Ondes Martenot and, after, using lots of synthesizers and also experimenting with electrified/synthesized saxophones..." "As a saxophonist and jazz improviser I always looked for ways to play without a keyboard."

Pictured above is Bruno with his EMS Synthi 100 (videos previously posted here and here).

On the Synthi 100: "I bought the Synthi 100 in 1971. In 1987 I gave it to Felix Visser (Synton) in exchange for a Fairlight CMI; some years he had to sell it at an auction, and I don't know where it is now (I would recognize the instrument, as I did some small changes on it)."  It was listed on Vemia back in 2009 posted here and here. Click though for pics.

In 1974, he recorded the album 'Iischalte (Switched-on Switzerland)'.

Bruno Spoerri - Le Ranz Des Vaches


Uploaded on Jul 25, 2011 Aura Archange Maudit·57 videos

"Bruno Spoerri - Iischalte (Switched-on Switzerland)
1974

Imágenes de la película La lunga notte di Veronique (1966)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0183441/

Video made by Aura Archange Maudit"

-----

"On 'Voice Of Taurus' (1978), Bruno Spoerri experiments a lot with electrified wind instruments and also with jazz-rock and rock."

Bruno Spoerri - Hymn Of Taurus (Taurus Is Calling You!)

Uploaded on Nov 19, 2009 MrJJBonanza·29 videos
Re-Published on Sep 30, 2014 Bruno Spoerri - Topic

"First track of Bruno Spoerri's 'Voice Of Taurus'
1978 Gold Records, Switzerland
Cat# 11 061 (Vinyl, LP)

Bruno Spoerri on 'Hymn Of Taurus':
"The rhythm track was created with my very first primitive ring modulator (4 diodes and 2 transformers) that is why it is so dirty The voice went of course through the EMS vocoder, the choir was created through the VAKO Orchestron."

-----

Again, don't miss the full interview with Bruno Spoerri on Astronauta Pinguim here. There's some fascinating history there including Ginette Martenot and the Ondes Martenot, Oskar Sala with his Mixturtrautonium, and Joel Chadabe. Regarding his original gear, "most of my analog gear is sold (most of it to the remarkable Swiss Synthorama of Martin Hollinger), but I still have my first synthi, the EMS VCS-3 (from 1970), the ARP 2600 with sequencer and the Lyricon I and II. I use the lyricon quite often in performances, the other gear mostly for demonstrations to visitors."

I was fortunate enough to visit Synthorama back in 2008. You can find my pics and videos from the visit here. See the Synthorama label for other posts including a one of a kind modular, the Airböurne, created by the curator of the museum, Martin Hollinger.

For more posts featuring Bruno click here and scroll.  Check him out on the Synthophone and Gesture Based Synthesis here.

via Fabricio Carvalho aka Astronauta Pinguim on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

You can find links to additional interviews with synth history's early influentials by Astronauta Pinguim here.

An Interview with Joel Chadabe on Astronauta Pinguim

via Astronauta Pinguim where you'll find the full interview.

"Joel Chadabe, native of New York, studied with Elliott Carter at the Yale School of Music. Following three years in Europe, he returned to New York and established an electronic music studio at the State University of New York at Albany.

In 1967, he created the design for an analog-programmable Moog synthesizer and commissioned Robert Moog to build it. In 1977, Joel Chadabe and Roger Meyers developed the PLAY Program, the first software music sequencer. From 1983 to 1994, Joel Chadabe was the president of Intelligent Music, the first company to develop and distribute software and hardware for interactive composing, In 1994, he founded Electronic Music Foundation (EMF), a non-profit organization dedicated to the history and creative potential of electronic music. In 2006, he founded Ear To The Earth, a worldwide network for environmental sound..."

via Fabricio Carvalho aka Astronauta Pinguim on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

After checking out the interview with Joel Chadabe, click here and scroll for other interviews with synth legends on Astronauta Pinguim.

KISS2013: INTER faces - Kyma International Sound Symposium in Brussels

"Kyma International Sound Symposium in Brussels, 12-14 September 2013, to focus on interfaces for interactive sound design and live performance

Champaign, Illinois, June 18, 2013 - Composers, sound designers and performers are invited to register for this year's Kyma International Sound Symposium (KISS2013) in Brussels Belgium from September 12-15 2013. Featured events include hands-on demonstrations of interfaces for interactive sound and performance, a public dialog on spatialization featuring electronic music pioneers Annette Vande Gorne and Joel Chadabe, a competition pitting teams of sound designers and engineers against the clock to create new performance interfaces, an exclusive preview of new developments in the Kyma sound design language, concerts of new music inspired by the Belgian painter René Magritte, live Kyma electronics spatialized through a 70+ speaker Acousmonium in the Espace Senghor, and an installation in the ISIB foyer where visitors (tracked by a Kinect camera) will create a continuous, collaborative soundscape.

[PHOTO: Caption: Actor Allison Goodman, shown here controlling Kyma with an Emotiv EPOC neural headset, is one of the performers scheduled to appear at KISS2013 in Brussels September 12-15 2013]

"KISS2013: INTER faces" will also feature technical sessions on topics ranging from signal processing to interfaces, an 'Open lab' where Kyma experts will be available to answer questions, hands-on demos and workshops focusing on innovative user interfaces and controllers, and evenings filled with live musical performances showcasing some of the best work created in Kyma this year, including music controlled by brain interfaces, game controllers, iPads, Continuum fingerboards and drawing tablets; audio signals used as controllers; Foley artists as live performers; live cinema; motion-tracked dancers, and more!

Kyma developers Carla Scaletti and Kurt J. Hebel will be joined by over 30 audio and music professionals from ten countries in presenting the seminars, music, and hands-on demonstrations.

The full KISS2013 schedule is available on-line at http://bit.ly/150XXuP

Program highlights

KISS2013 organizers Rudi Giot and Jacques Tichon, along with their students at the Institut Supérieur Industriel de Bruxelles (ISIB), have several special activities planned for KISS2013, including:

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Music of Richard Lainhart Coming to Tokyo & a New Release

October 13 & October 16, 2012 – Tokyo, Japan

Ambient Dream: The Music of Richard Lainhart

"If you are in Japan or know of anyone who will be in Toyko October 13 or 16, please pass this along. Thanks! — Caroline Meyers (Richard Lainhart's wife)

Richard Lainhart (1953-2011) was one of the seminal figures in contemporary American electronic music, composing more than 150 works over the course of nearly four decades. His distinctive sound was characterized by organic textures inspired by natural phenomena, such as clouds, water and fire, typically arranged in minimalist structures and treated with microscopically observed harmonies. The "listening" concerts October 13 and 16 are retrospectives of his music and a preview of an upcoming vinyl LP scheduled for release December 2012.

For more about Richard and the legacy of his music visit
www.otownmedia.com/RichardLainhart
or email Caroline Meyers cmeyers@otownmedia.com"

Update: you can also track updates at Richard Lainhart Music and Films on Facebook.  Be sure to like the page.

And a new release available at Vicmod Records:

"The Course of the River, a vintage electronic music work by the late synthesist Richard Lainhart is now available.

It includes two parts:

A River on a Cold Mountain 14:21
The Course of the River 31:48

The music was created in 1975 on the Moog CEMS System at SUNY Albany Electronic Music Studio. All proceeds from the album will go to the Lainhart Family."

Click here for full details on the release. Excerpt regarding the CEMS:

"The pieces on 'The Course of the River' were both recorded in the State University of New York at Albany's Electronic Music Studio in 1975, using the Moog CEMS (Coordinated Electronic Music Studio) System developed by my composition teacher Joel Chadabe. Joel worked closely with Bob Moog in developing the CEMS, and Moog developed many custom modules for the system, which at the time may have been the largest integrated Moog synthesizer in the world.

The CEMS System contained an extended array of sound generating and processing modules as well as a unique programming system consisting of an automated matrix mixer, a digital master clock, and a bank of eight analog sequencers with customized logic hardware for running them together, independently, in succession, or in any combination of those modes..."

Symbolic Sound KISS2012

"KISS2012: real time, reel time, sound and Kyma

Sound designers to converge on St Cloud Minnesota for over 24 hours of lecture/demonstrations, 9 hours of hands-on workshops, and 3 nights of live music, cinema and improvisation

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS, June 26 - The fourth annual Kyma International Sound Symposium (KISS2012) - to take place September 13-16 at St Cloud State University School of the Arts in St Cloud, Minnesota - will include over 24 hours of technical sessions presented by Kyma experts, 9 hours of hands-on labs, and evenings filled with live music and live cinema showcasing some of the most outstanding work created in Kyma this year.

Since the inaugural symposium in Barcelona in 2009, KISS attendees around the world have benefited from the extensive technical training, aesthetic inspiration, and opportunities for collaboration that KISS is known to deliver. This year, more than 100 sound designers, composers, performers, filmmakers, game designers, authors, audio engineers, educators, and students are expected to participate in KISS2012.

"The dual nature of this year's theme - reel time || real time - has attracted an incredibly diverse group of people! It's just a great learning opportunity for everyone involved." - Scott Miller, professor of music composition at St Cloud State University School of the Arts and host of this year's KISS.

Throughout the four-day event, sound designers will be able to explore the latest innovations, features, and capabilities of the Kyma Sound Design Language and learn how to optimize their work flow so they can create amazing new sounds for film, games, music and more. Kyma practitioners are invited to bring their own Sounds to the labs where they can work with Kyma developers and fellow Kyma practitioners to enhance their results.

"One of our passions is to partner with Kyma users to help bring their creations to life. There is no better way to maximize your Kyma skills and discover new collaborative opportunities than by participating in the Kyma International Sound Symposium." - Carla Scaletti, president of Symbolic Sound Corporation, co-host of KISS2012.

If you are obsessed with sound - whether a novice seeking to kickstart your career, an expert looking to take your mastery to the next level, or someone who's simply curious about sound design and Kyma - KISS2012 is your chance to immerse yourself in sound and ideas for four intense and inspiring days and nights.
The deadline for discounted registration is August 10, 2012: http://bit.ly/J7URvC


[Photo Credit: Adam Studer]

Keynote speakers, expert presenters, and topics

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Richard Lainhart, Morton Subotnick and I Dream of Wires Screening

As many of you know, Richard Lainhart passed away on December 30, 2011. He was primarily known in his later days for his music composed with a Buchla 200e modular system and Haken Continuum. On July 7 & 8, 2012 he and Morton Subotnick's works will be featured in a concert and screening presented by Harvestworks, in association with ((audience)) and River-to-River Festival. A screening of the modular synthesizer documentary "I Dream of Wires" which features Richard will be held on July 8.

"A note from Caroline Meyers (Richard's wife).
'Richard would have been so honored to have his name linked to that of Morton Subotnick for this July 7th concert. He often spoke of his reverence and admiration for the composer's works and I believe Silver Apples of the Moon was the inspiration for Richard to begin his explorations in electronic music.

That he did not live to see this day pains my heart, but I hope that the occasion and the admission price will encourage you to mark your calendar and attend this concert in his name, and in celebration of electronic music from the master.'"

The events:

July 7, 2012, 7:30pm
Works by Morton Subotnick and Richard Lainhart Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts
Pace University
3 Spruce Street, NYC
Admission: FREE

On July 7, Source of Uncertainty II presents a premiere performance of Energy Shapes by Morton Subotnick and excerpts from his legendary album Silver Apples of the Moon.

The July 7th concert's opening feature is The Orchestra of the Damned, by the late Richard Lainhart (1953-2011). The Orchestra of the Damned is a quadraphonic tape-work for the Buchla 200e analog modular synthesizer.

As Richard introduced the first audition of the piece on MatrixSynth (www.matrixsynth.com) in 2007, he said: "Friends: just in time for Halloween, a new piece for Buchla 200e and Continuum - The Orchestra Of The Damned...I played this live entirely with the Continuum - no sequencing or multitracking involved. I hope you enjoy it." [posted here]

In a review for Further Noise, Caleb Deupree says, "Orchestra of the Damned is cinematic with all of its texture changes, from sparse, quiet sounds to constant, siren drones, including a remarkable section reminiscent of the earliest electronic works from Cologne and Paris of the 1950s."

July 8, 2012, 6:00pm
Film screening of I Dream of Wires
including an interview with Richard Spectacle Theater
124 South 3rd Street, Brooklyn
Admission: $5

On July 8, ((audience)) will present a special screening of selections from I Dream of Wires, a forthcoming documentary on the modular synthesizer featuring interviews with manufacturers, collectors, designers and musicians.

The I Dream of Wires, screening will include an interview with Richard Lainhart.

Directed by Robert Fantinatto, I Dream of Wiresis a journey into the obscure but highly influential world of modular synthesizers. Learn how it revolutionized music from the pioneers that were there, why it quickly became obsolete, and how it has become all the rage again.

The film is currently in production; the directors will present a selection of raw footage and interviews. For more information, visit http://idreamofwires.org/.

The evening will also include short films by Liz Wendelbo with soundtracks by her Brooklyn-based synthesizer band, Xeno & Oaklander."

"About Richard Lainhart
Richard Lainhart was a composer, performer, and filmmaker based in New York. He studied composition and electronic music techniques with Joel Chadabe, a pioneer of electronic music and the designer of the Coordinated Electronic Music System at one time the largest integrated Moog synthesizer system in the world. From 1987-1990, Lainhart was the Technical Director for Intelligent Music, developers of innovative computer music software like M, Jam Factory, and UpBeat.

His compositions have been performed in the US, England, Sweden, Germany, Australia, and Japan. Recordings of his music have appeared on the Periodic Music, Vacant Lot, XI Records, ExOvo and Airglow Music labels and are distributed online via MusicZeit. As an active performer, Lainhart has appeared in public approximately 2000 times. Besides performing his own work, he has worked and performed with John Cage, David Tudor, Steve Reich, Phill Niblock, David Berhman, and Jordan Rudess, among many others. He has composed over 100 electronic and acoustic works, and has been making music for forty years. In 2008, he was commissioned by the Electronic Music Foundation to contribute a work to New York Soundscape.

Lainhart's animations and short films have been shown in festivals in the US, Canada, Germany, and Korea, and online at ResFest, The New Venue, The Bitscreen, and Streaming Cinema 2.0. His film "A Haiku Setting" won awards in several categories at the 2002 International Festival of Cinema and Technology in Toronto. In 2008, he was awarded a Film & Media grant by the New York State Council on the Arts for "No Other Time", full-length intermedia performance designed for a large reverberant space, combining live analog electronics with four-channel playback, and high-definition computer-animated film projection."

Sal-Mar construction restoration

flickr set By gdanner
(click for more)

"Starting in 2003 I began to restore the Sal-Mar construction. The machine is a massive analog synthesizer with a unique digital logic control system. There are 4 sub-audio oscillators, 8 audio oscillators, and 2 percussion generators."

via K-boarding Synthesizer on Facebook

"First, in 2007 Matrixsynth covered Greg Danner’s restoration of the notorious Sal-Mar Construction, an obscenely complex synthesizer from 1969 controlled by digital logic sequencers. Also in 1969, Joel Chadabe had Moog build a modular synth along roughly similar lines, no keyboard, lots of sequencers. The innards of the CEMS are documented here."

See the Sal-Mar label below for more.

Bob Moog Foundation Releases 2012 “Moog Pioneers in the Studio” Calendar

"December 6, 2011 - Asheville, NC - The Bob Moog Foundation announces the release of its 2012 calendar, “ Moog Pioneers in the Studio.” The calendar features photos and history from Bob Moog’s archives, as well as photos from collections of pioneering synthesists. The photos and text, compiled and written by BMF volunteer historian Brian Kehew, focus on more obscure luminaries and their fascinating instruments.

Through documenting the many musicians, composers, and scholars who collaborated with Moog, the Foundation aims to share the breadth of material encompassed in the inventor’s archives and to share the very rich history of electronic music. In addition to three photos that feature Moog himself, “Moog Pioneers in the Studio” also features Joel Chadabe, Jon Appleton, Jean Jacques-Perrey, Chris Swansen, Jon Weiss, Max Brand, Herb Deutsch, JD Robb, Eric Siday, Emmanuel Ghent, Mort Garson, and Gil Trythall.

As an ode to Moog’s pioneering work in modular synthesis, the background of calendar grid features art images of vintage Moog modules from symphonic synthiesist Erik Norlander’s 1967 modular system. The images were taken by Shaun Hollingsworth of [SIC] Images. The calendar was designed by Rose Hecht and edited by Geary Yelton. Both Kehew and Executive Director Michelle Moog-Koussa wrote forewords for the calendar.

“Saints be praised, the Bob Moog Foundation has released another fantastic, picture-laden calendar, this one for 2012! Featured in gorgeous vintage photos and posing with Moog modular synthesizers — and on occasion with the great Bob Moog himself — are 12 important pioneers of synthesized and electro-acoustic music. Some of these pioneers I’m familiar with, others not so much, and I welcome the challenge of learning more about them beyond what’s revealed by their accompanying captions. Cheers to the Bob Moog Foundation for recognizing these pioneers! I urge everyone to support the crucial Bob Moog Foundation cause by first purchasing this new calendar and by contributing in any way humanly possible.”

—Mark Vail, Music Historian, Author, Teacher and Journalist

The calendar is available for purchase on the Bob Moog Foundation's brand new online store. All proceeds from online sales go to support the Foundation's ongoing projects, including the preservation of Bob's historical and extensive archives, the expansion of our Dr. Bob's Sound School, and creation of the Moogseum in Asheville, N."

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Periphery Label Launch Event, August 20th, Philadelphia

"One Thousand Pulses, the Northeast's premier concert series for electronic & experimental music, invites you to the launch event for its new CD label, Periphery. / otperiphery.com

Periphery's maxim is "wrestling frequencies from the edges & otherwise", proffering uncategorizable works from musicians operating across the electronic & experimental music spectrum.

All three recent releases, including Richard Lainhart's Polychromatic Integers, and the One Thousand Pulses compendium Home Patterning (with tracks by Tim Motzer and Color is Luxury, recorded live in the OTP soundspace) will be available at the event.

Our launch event lineup:

> TIM MOTZER / 1krecordings.com / Philly-based guitarist and composer Tim Motzer finds infinite joy in diversity. His output as a leader and sideman crisscrosses multiple musical universes, including jazz, fusion, prog, hip-hop, soul, electronica, and the avantgarde. Motzer gets to explore these genres and the intersections between them via his ubiquitous presence in the wildly deep and varied Philly scene. He also traverses manifold territories through the many albums released on his own 1k Recordings, such as the rhythmically diverse soundscapes populating the Tilomo release, and, more tellingly, as Fractured Reverb Underground (FRU). The sole FRU CD comprises electronic studio experiments from 1999 — a decade ahead of their time — generously tipping its hat to the Orb’s Alex Patterson thanks to its psychedelic clouds of mercurial ambient textures. Motzer has also worked on releases by British singer-songwriter David Sylvian with the ongoing Secret Rhythms project comprising electronica/dub luminary Burnt Friedman and ex-Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit, as well as with German Touch guitarist Markus Reuter on Descending, a deeply sublime and stunningly beautiful work that references Brian Eno, Frippertronics, Supersilent, and David Sylvian.

> RICHARD LAINHART / otownmedia.com / Since childhood, Richard Lainhart has been interested in natural processes such as waves, flames and clouds, in harmonics and harmony, and in creative interactions with machines, using them as compositional methods to present sounds and images that are as beautiful as he can make them. Well-versed in the varied applications of his beloved Buchla boxes, yet equally agile on numerous synths, keyboards, vibes, and guitars, Lainhart has been reorganizing the topography of tone and texture for over 30 years. After studying composition in Albany under EMF founder and professor Joel Chadabe, Lainhart not only went on to create idiosyncratic recordings in his own right, but has performed and worked with the likes of John Cage, David Tudor, Steve Reich, Phill Niblock, David Berhman, and many others.

> COLOR IS LUXURY / colorisluxury.org / Obsessed with circuit-bending and inner ear manipulation, intrepid Philly experimental sound duo Color Is Luxury combines the talents of erstwhile Buchla veteran Charles Cohen and the curiously monikered hair_loss in the yielding of some of the most provocative boops and beeps around. Ripping the innards out of their respective electronic arsenals, this diminutive motley crew twist their varied sound palettes into corkscrew whorls of new shapes, sizes, and hues. Noise but not noise, drawing clear lineage from the pioneering work of Morton Subotnick, Pauline Oliveros, Gil Melle, and Wendy Carlos outward, Color Is Luxury remain tonally consciously even when they go all atonal on us, sonic provocateurs sharing a rich aural history that blossoms before your very ears.

> PTO / PTO (Pulses Tones Oscillations) is one of the numerous sound-producing aliases of Darren Bergstein, longtime music journalist, collector, historian, and archivist, former publisher of the magazines i/e and e/i, and founder/owner of both One Thousand Pulses and the Periphery label. Free improvising in the wellworn electroacoustic tradition, Bergstein has at his disposal tools old (tongue drum, rainstick, metallophone) and new (iPhone), but they're all just texture-mappers regardless of origin, simply various objects to be tapped, stroked, and struck at will.

Join us for an immersive evening of audiovisual electronic interfacing."

Richard Lainhart: CEMS, Theremin, and Ondes Martenot Lecture, BEAF 2011

YouTube Uploaded by matrixsynth on Jun 1, 2011

First three parts of Richard Lainhart's lecture at the Bellingham Electronic Arts Festival on Friday, May 6, 2011, 2PM PST. These cover the CEMS (Coordinated Electronic Music Studio - see the CEMS label below for more), theremin, and ondes Martenot. The audio on these are a little on the low side so remember to turn your speakers back down after listening. You can find a full transcript for each part below in case you can't quite make things out. You can catch Richard Lainhart's lecture on the Buchla 200e and Haken Continuum, followed by a performance, in this previous post.

Transcripts for the above three videos:

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Pantomation (1977-1979)

YouTube via VintageCG | March 02, 2010

"Pantomation was a very early tracking chromakey system from the 1970s. Originally intended for music scoring, the system was adapted to other styles of performance art. While crude by modern standards, the concept was decades ahead of its time; it can reasonably be considered an early forebear of systems like Microsoft's Project Natal."

via Retro Thing, via Jimmersound

Update via Richard Lainhart in the comments:
"Coincidently enough, I was involved in this project - I hard-wired most of the computer interface for the Pantomation system, later called the Electric Pantograph. There's a history of the project here, some of which is used in the narration of the film"

http://www.experimentaltvcenter.org/history/groups/gtext.php3?id=32

I was working as a musician/technician with EBA then, and knew Tom Dewitt, the main designer of the system, from the SUNY Albany Electronic Music Studio, where I studied with Joel Chadabe. You can see a brief shot of the mighty Moog CEMS system in that studio at about 3:35 in the video."

The Development and Practice or Electronic Music

via this auction

"'The Development and Practice or Electronic Music' by Jon H. Appleton & Ronald C. Perera
Printed in 1975. Hardcover.

Chapters:
1. Otto Luening: Origins
2. A. Wayne Slawson: Sound, Electronics, and Hearing
3. Gustav Ciamaga: The Tape Studio
4. Joel Chadabe: The Voltage-Controlled Synthesizer
5. John E. Rogers: The Uses of Digital Computers in Electronic Music Generation
6. Gordon Mumma: Live Electronic Music

Basically an old textbook on electronic music and analog synthesizers, you can learn a lot about making electronic music with synthesizers by reading this book. Covers all sorts of things, such as how synthesizers work, how you hear different frequencies, how to record synthesizers, how to use them in interesting ways live, and examples of how others have used them in the past. There are also tons of great black and white photos of old synthesizers, modular synths, and people using them live.

Synthesizers pictured include: Minimoog, EML ElectroComp, Moog Sonic VI (Prototype?), ARP 2500, ARP 2600, Synket, Moog Modular, EML Synthi 100, EML Synthi A, and more!"

see the seller's other items for more.

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Lainhart Live Online Audio/Video Performance Friday May 7

"Friends: Sponsored by the ImprovFriday group, I'll be performing a realtime audio/video set from my studio on Friday, May 7, at 9 PM EDST (GMT -4). In honor of ImprovFriday, I'll be playing structured improvisations for electric guitar and lapsteel processed with the Kyma System and laptop, and streaming live video and audio of the event with interactive chat on the ImprovFriday site:

http://improvfriday.ning.com/

To find your local time, go here

I hope you can tune in, and I encourage you to join the ImprovFriday group for more wonderful spontaneous music from around the world."

Richard Lainhart will also be performing Monday May 10 with Buchla and Haken Continuum along with Jessica Feldman and Michael V. Waller:

"LMAKseries - Live audiovisual performance event

Monday, May 10, 7:30 pm
Featuring: Jessica Feldman, Richard Lainhart and Michael V. Waller

Richard Lainhart is an award-winning composer, filmmaker, and author - a digital artisan who workswith sonic and visual data. Since childhood, he's been interested in natural processes such as waves, flames and clouds, in harmonics and harmony, and in creative interactions with machines, using them as compositional methods to present sounds and images that are as beautiful as he can make them. Lainhart studied composition and electronic music with Joel Chadabe at the State University of New York at Albany. He has composed music for film, television, CD-ROMs, interactive applications, and the Web. His compositions have been performed in the US, England, Sweden, Germany, Australia, and Japan. Recordings of his music have appeared on the Periodic Music, Vacant Lot, XI Records, Airglow Music, Tobira Records, Infrequency, VICMOD, and ExOvo labels. He has worked and performed with John Cage, David Tudor, Steve Reich, Phill Niblock, David Berhman, and Jordan Rudess, among many others. In 2008, he was commissioned by the Electronic Music Fondation to contribute a work to New York Soundscape. Lainhart's animations and short films have been shown at festivals in the US, the UK, Canada, Portugal, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and Korea, and online at Souvenirs From Earth, ResFest, The New Venue, The Bitscreen, and Streaming Cinema 2.0. In 2009, he was awarded a Film & Media grant by the New York State Council on the Arts. In January 2010, he performed as a featured Live Media audio-visual artist at Netmage 2010 in Bologna, Italy."

LMAKprojects
139 Eldridge Street
New York NY 10002

Announcing the 2010 Bob Moog Foundation Calendar

via The Bob Moog Foundation.

This would make a great stocking stuffer.

"The Bob Moog Foundation has created a calendar celebrating the rich history of the Moog Legacy through vintage photos, memorabilia, quotes and information taken directly from Bob’s archive. The photos trace pivotal moments in Bob’s early career and highlight many musicians and pioneers who inspired his work. Throughout the calendar, which is laden with images of early Moog instruments, Bob’s thoughts and philosophies about his work are shared in an effort to give greater understanding to his history and path; his was one of collaboration, listening and absolute dedication to musician’s needs.

The calendar is comprised of five photos of Moog himself, taken from 1958-1974. The remaining photos are of:
* Leon Theremin
* Vladimir Ussachevsky
* Herb Deutsch
* Keith Emerson
* Paul Beaver and Bernie Krause
* Isao Tomita
* Joel Chadabe
* Roger Powell

The calendar was designed by graphics artist Rose Hecht in collaboration with the Bob Moog Foundaton. Through her designs, Rose pays hommage to the original Moog modular synthesizer as the instrument that spawned an industry and radically changed the face of popular music. The background of every page touts panels of knobs and patchbays — images taken from photos of an early modular that was used in Moog’s shop in the 60s. That instrument is one of the many priceless items in Moog’s archives.

The calendar is available for purchase on our online store. All proceeds go to fund our ongoing projects, including the preservation of the archives."

"What a beautiful, informative, and intricately detailed document the 2010 Bob Moog Foundation Calendar is! The rarely — if ever before — seen photos are outstanding, so much so that in 2011 I may extract and frame many of them for my studio walls. On second thought, the calendar as a whole will end up in my archives; I promise no scissors will ever touch it. Also extremely cool and drool-worthy are the Moog Modular images in the background. Well done! I can hardly wait for the 2011 edition." -- Mark Vail

Update: In case you attempted to purchase a 2010 Bob Moog Foundation Calendar and were unable to, the calendar is now available for purchase on the Bob Moog Foundation online store.

Joel Chadabe

via http://www.chadabe.com/

Top: "Performing 'Solo' at New Music New York in 1979. The system on the table is the first Synclavier. The antennas are modified theremins, built by Robert Moog."

Bottom: "Working at the CEMS System, an analog-programmable electronic music system, in the Electronic Music Studio at State University of New York at Albany in 1970."

via Nino