Jon Appleton: A Tribute

video upload by CatSynth TV

"We pay tribute to composer and electronic music pioneer Jon Appleton who passed away on January 30, 2022. He founded the Dartmouth Electronic Music Studio and later the graduate program in digital music, where we was a teacher and mentor to many composers and musicians over the year. He was instrumental in creating the Synclavier synthesizers from New England Digital, and raised the profile of electro-acoustic music in the United States through societies like SEAMUS and his numerous teaching residencies. We at CatSynth send our thoughts to his family, friends, and colleagues.

To learn more about his life and legacy, please visit his website https://www.appletonjon.com/"

Jon Appleton: In His Own Words

video upload by Jon Appleton

"An interview with composer Jon Appleton filmed at his Vermont residence.

Made with Void Engineering www.voidengineering.com"

Music for Synclavier and Other Digital Systems: With Jon Appleton, Composer


You can find additional posts mentioning Jon Appleton here.

The Synclavier, Michael Jackson and a Copyright Conundrum

video by Alex Ball

"Who wrote the intro to "Beat It"? Michael Jackson?

Let's find out...

One correction: I misspelt Jon Appleton in the video, apologies to Jon.

Root Studio's Synclavier demo video mentioned:"

NED Synclavier I Demo
video by rootstudio

"This rare New England Digital Synclavier Model I plays from its internal sequencer what is probably a factory demo.

To find out more about this instrument, watch my history video:"

Synclavier I - the first digital synthesizer you could buy
video by rootstudio

"One of the rarest musical instruments, this historic computer controlled synthesizer is as flexible as you want it to be and sounds like nothing else. Video includes high definition close ups of the insides and demo sounds.

Listen to some experimental music created on this Synclavier:
http://www.root-music.com/products/ot...​"

Update via gridsleep in the comments: "Triadex Muse was released in 1972, five years before the Synclavier."

And you could buy it. The Synclavier 1 would be the first *programmable* digital synth you could purchase, but only via the included DEC VT100. via 120years.net: "The synclavier 1 was an FM synthesis based keyboard-less sound module, and was only programmable via a DEC VT100 computer supplied with the system."

So I guess it depends on how you define a synthesizer - programmable or not. Note there were at least two earlier digital "synths". See The First Synth To post for more.

Compositions on the Dartmouth Digital Synthesizer

Published on Jun 2, 2015

Provided to YouTube by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Georganna's Farewell · Jon Appleton
Bilder (Images) · Lars-Gunnar Bodin
Emergence · Russell Pinkston
Tapestry I · William Brunson

The Dartmouth Digital Synthesizer

℗ 2004 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings / 1976 Folkways Records

Released on: 1976-01-01

The Dartmouth Digital Synthesizer was the precursor to the NED Synclavier. See the Dartmouth Digital Synthesizer label below for more.

An Interview with Barry Schrader

Hi everyone! As you know Barry Schrader will be giving his farewell concert at CalArts on September 26. The following is the beginning of my interview with him. I opted to post the questions and answers as they come in.  New QAs will get a new post so you do not miss them and they will be added to this post so we have one central post for the full interview. This should make it easier for all of us to consume in our busy lives, and it will allow you to send in any questions that may come to mind during the interview process.  If you have anything you'd like to ask Barry, feel free to send it in to matrixsynth@gmail.com.  This is a rare opportunity for us to get insight on a significant bit of synthesizer history, specifically with early Buchla systems, and I'd like to thank Barry for this opportunity. Thank you Barry!

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The Dartmouth Digital Synthesizer - Lars Gunnar Bodin-Bilder (Images)

Published on Sep 21, 2013 biedrzyn·103 videos
Re-Published on Jun 2, 2015 #LarsGunnarBodin

"Provided to YouTube by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Bilder (Images) · Lars-Gunnar Bodin

The Dartmouth Digital Synthesizer

℗ 2004 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings / 1976 Folkways Records

Released on: 1976-01-01"

Previous video description from biedrzyn:

"Album: V/A The Dartmouth Digital Synthesizer (1976). Lars-Gunnar Bodin (July 15, 1935, Stockholm) is a Swedish pioneer in the field of electronic music during the 1960s, especially in the Scandinavian scene."

The Dartmouth Digital Synthesizer was the precursor to the NED Synclavier. See the Dartmouth label at the bottom of this post for more.

via ... którędy pójdą dzicy święci where you'll find the full post on the release.

"The music on this recording was produced on a new kind of synthesizer developed at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. In 1972 composer Jon Appleton began working with two engineers, Sydney Alonso and Cameron Jones, to develop a computer-controlled synthesizer. Significant work had already been done on digital synthesis, but it was felt by the inventors at Dartmouth that an inexpensive, totally dedicated system could help many composers explore this new way of producing sound. The inventors also wanted to create a users language which did not require computer expertise as had previous computer music programs..."

via f * mass

An Interview with Jon Appleton - One of the Creators of the NED Synclavier

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

"APPLETON - I have the first and the second Synclavier but I don't play them. I am not sure they work. Sydney and Cameron and I developed the instrument first from something called The Dartmouth Digital Synthesizer. It was my conception and their design..."

Check out the "all-star" pic below. You should recognize some of the names. Peter Zinovieff was he man behind EMS. Via Fabricio Carvalho on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

Astronauta Pinguim also brought us interviews with Vince Clark, Gershon Kingsley, Herb Deutsch, and Jean Jacques Perrey.

Remember you can find all interviews featured on the site via the Interviews label below.

500Sound.com NED Synclavier Resource Site

This site has been around for a while. I did a quick search in the archives and although I found reference to it in Synclavier posts, I don't think I ever put up a formal post on it. With the recently released The Beast virtual Synclavier by UVI, I figured now was a better time than any to put a post up. That said, you can find the site here. You'll find everything you ever wanted to know about the NED Synclavier.

"The '''Synclavier Digital Audio System''' manufactured by New England Digital was a powerful, fully integrated computerised audio system used for music and post production. Using it's combination of synthesis, sampling, disk recording, and it's comprehensive proprietory software and hardware it was not only a powerful music performance and compositional tool but also a very accomplished sound design and editing system. It was first developed in the late '70s at Dartmouth College by Jon Appleton, Sydney Alonso and Cameron Jones.

Probably once as famous for it's cost as much as for it's musical abilities - full blown late systems would retail for between $200,000 - $300,00 US. The largest system built and sold by NED selling for $500,000. Instantantly recognisable with it's unique keyboard. The image on the left is the ORK (ORiginal Keyboard) and on the right is the later V/PK (Velocity/Pressure Keyboard)..."

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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::vtol:: @ Theremin Center 03.04.2010

::vtol:: @ Theremin Center 03.04.2010 from ::vtol:: on Vimeo.

"Theremin Center -en.wikipedia.org/​wiki/​Theremin_Center

vtol.tk"

from the wikipedia link above:
"The Theremin Center for Electroacoustic Music was created in Moscow, Russia in 1992 by the group of musicians and computer scientists, under the leadership of Andrey Smirnov. It was named for Leon Theremin - Russian inventor of the Theremin, one of the first widely used electronic musical instruments.

The Theremin Center aims to achieve a co-operation of musicians, artists, scientists, and technologists who are oriented toward realization of experimental artistic projects. We envision the centre as a base from which to carry out interdisciplinary research in such fields as computer music, electroacoustic music, interactive systems, multimedia, including dance, visual arts etc., as well as a centre for the development and creation of innovative programs, technical devices and techniques.

From the start the Theremin Center was intended to operate on a non-profit basis and most services and equipment were donated by the founders and sponsors of the Theremin Center. Professor Jon Appleton founded the International Advisory Board and helped in developing the Theremin Center and establishing continuous relationships within the international musical and scientific communities. The Moscow State Conservatory has provided space. It was a part of the Sound Recording and Musical Acoustics Laboratory - the place where in 1960s Leon Theremin was conducting his research. Since 2005 Theremin Center became a part of Electroacoustic Center at Moscow State Conservatory."

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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LoveLiveElectronic

LoLieL live performances @ ART-ZAVOD festival

YouTube via LoveLiveElectronic. sent my way via Дмитрий Морозов.

http://www.myspace.com/loveliveelectronic

"First Russian Live Interactive Forum for live performance and D.I.Y. approach in different fields of experimental technological arts (mainly experimental electronic
music, video-art, interactivity etc.). Founded by several free composers and scientists on a base of the Theremin-Center (www.theremin.ru) in 2008. The
Theremin-Center - is the first and the oldest studio of electronic and electroacoustic music in Russia. It is situated in Moscow State Conservatory and is an official
part of it. It bares the name of Leon Theremin, who was working at the studio, at the time it was just a laboratory of electroacoustics, and then till his last days.

LoveLiveElectronic (aka LoLiEl) community does regular live events, where artists perform experimental electronic music and video-art often using computer
algorithms, programmed by them-self, or hard-equipment, built by their own. We also consider it good to modify any commercial soft and gear in a HACKING-
paradigm with a purpose of creating something new and unpredictable. LoLiEl also supports so-called "aesthetic of false" which core is in misusing everything,
what you can misuse. And of course we are fond of old soft-wear and old hard-wear, which is now became outside of the commercial market, as well as free-soft
and linux-based developments. We insist on performing live, when AN ACTION PRODUCES EFFECT. We feel bad about using prerecorded samples, but really
appreciate REAL-TIME SAMPLING. We insist on NOT using phonogramms at all. We also produce free work-shops on bending electronics and programming in PD,
Max..MSP, CSound, etc.


We celebrate originality and pray creativity. We feel pulsating spirit of innovational revolution. SELF-programmed, SELF-built, SELF-destroyed.

Special thanks to Jon Appleton for good ideas of logo-design. Spiritual thanks to Andrey Smirnov (head of Moscow Theremin Center). Special thanks to Patricia
Thompson (the doughter of Vladimir Mayakovskiy) for encouragement of the futuristic event in the museum of Mayakovskiy."

jon appleton demonstrates the synclavier ii (1984)

YouTube via aloofdork. Sent my way via Robert Leiner
"jon appleton demonstrates the synclavier 2"
http://www.appletonjon.com/index.htm

The Incredible Sounds of the Synclavier II

via this auction

"Ultra rare private pressing demo record on clear blue vinyl, an artifact of electronic music history originally given out to prospective buyers of this innovative classic synth. It contains a montage of brief melodies and unique sound effects showing off the amazing capabilities of this system that combined sampled and FM synthesized sounds and was designed by legendary electronic composer Jon Appleton at Dartmouth College. The music and programming on this disc is credited to Denny Jaeger and Bill Keenan, plus there is an excerpt of a synthesized version of Vivaldi's Four Seasons by Patrick Gleeson (member of Herbie Hancock's 70s-era electric funk band). The Sync II has featured prominently in the recordings of Pat Metheny, Michael Jackson (who pretty much swiped the synth intro to "Beat It" from this lp!), Laurie Anderson, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Soft Cell, Marc Almond, Bronski Beat, ABBA, Genesis, Chick Corea, George Duke, Sting, Tomita, and Stevie Wonder."

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Celebration of Max Mathews and 50 Years of Computer Music

Image via wikipedia. Anyone catch the following? I found out a little late.

Update: check the comments for one more date on April 30 in San Francisco.

"Date: Wed, Apr 18 2007 1:46pm
From: "Computer History Museum"

CCRMA and CHM Present

A Celebration of Max Mathews and 50 Years of Computer Music

Fifty years ago, in 1957, at Bell Telephone Laboratories, Max Mathews demonstrated that the digital computer can be used as a fantastic new musical instrument. He created a revolutionary software platform destined to form the basis of all contemporary digital musical systems.

His audacious ideas were driven by the belief that any sound that the human ear can hear can be produced by a computer. Mathews' mastery of this new instrument revealed new musical horizons and sparked a burgeoning curiosity into the very nature of sound. His comprehension and elaboration made five decades of art and research ossible, laying the groundwork for generations of electronic musicians to synthesize, record, and play music. Today at Stanford's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) as a Professor Emeritus he continues not only to educate students and colleagues, but also to guide and inspire with his constant inventiveness and pure musical pleasure.

Join us in honoring Max for an afternoon of sound, celebration and discovery of his ideas,works, music, and writings.

WHEN
SUNDAY, April 29, 2007
4 p.m. Pre-concert talk
Jon Appleton, John Chowning, Evelyne Gayou, Max Mathews, Jean-Claude Risset
5 p.m. ìInfluences: A Tribute Concertî
Jon Appleton, Gerald Bennett, Chris Chafe, Evelyne Gayou, Max Mathews,
Dexter Morrill, Jean-Claude Risset
6:00 p.m. Reception

WHERE
Computer History Museum
Hahn Auditorium
1401 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, CA 94043
www.computerhistory.org/about/directions/

REGISTRATION
Free.
To register or for more information on the event, please visit the Museum's
Website at http://www.computerhistory.org/max_guest_04292007 or Call (650) 810-1005."

via loscha.

The Development & Practice of Electronic Music

No title link. Just the shot and details pulled via this auction.

Details
"The Development And Practice of Electronic Music by Jon H Appleton and Ronald C Perera. Hard cover with 384 pages of theory (analog and digital), history and pics of synthesizers. Pics of synths include Moog IIIC Modular, Buchla Modular, EMS Synthi 100 Modular, Complete Arp 2500 Modular, Moog Modular CEMS system, Arp 2600 and others."

Synth Books

See the Synth Books label for more.
Also see the scans label for more synth documentation.


The A-X of Analogue Synthesizers by Peter Forest


Vintage Synthesizers by Mark Vail


Essential Retro by James Grahame

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