AMIN BHATIA DEDICATES NEW ALBUM TO BOB MOOG

"Film Composer / Synthesist Amin Bhatia announces the release of 'Virtuality', the long-awaited sequel to his synth orchestral epic 'The Interstellar Suite', on the anniversary of synthesizer pioneer Bob Moog's birthday, May 23 2008.

The album is dedicated to Moog, who was a friend of the composer and is endorsed by the Bob Moog Foundation. Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director and daughter of the late Bob Moog says:

'My father's genius and passion was taking the synthesizer out of the laboratory and making synthesis accessible to musicians, and through them, to the world. Amin Bhatia’s 'Virtuality' is another fine example of that accessibility.'

True to Bhatia’s obsession with orchestral music and science fiction, the first half of the album explores the micro-universe that exists inside the computer. Titles like 'World Wide Web', 'Virus' and 'Second Life' portray aspects of our modern virtual world through music and sound design. Artwork was provided by the award winning digital artist Alexander Preuss.

The second half of the album features 'Bolero Electronica', a one-of-a-kind journey through 75 years of synthesizers through an innovative realization of Maurice Ravel’s 'Bolero'. In Bhatia’s version, instruments as early as the Ondes Martenot and Theremin begin the work, and the piece progresses through generations of synthesizers from Moog, Roland, Yamaha and others chronologically. The work builds in size and power decade by decade ending in present day virtual instruments and technologies. Guest artists include veteran keyboardists Steve Porcaro and Patrick Moraz. Many of the instruments used were from the Cantos Music Foundation. The album was recorded and mixed by award winning producers David Greene and Jeff Wolpert.

Bob Moog had been scheduled to provide a special feature narration track for “Bolero Electronica” but sadly that recording never happened. True to Bob’s mission to document, celebrate and teach innovative thinking, Amin instead employed noted synthesizer historian Mark Vail to create additional liner notes. The result is an illustrated guide which allows the listener to follow along stanza by stanza through Bhatia’s elaborate rendition, complete with a timeline chart of every synthesizer used.

'The Timeline of synthesizers in Bolero Electronica looks like the Moog Legacy to me and I only wish Dad were around to hear this project come to fruition', says Michelle. 'I think he would be delighted in the artistry Amin used to employ so many different instruments.'

Says Amin 'Electronic music to me is like animation. It’s a portrayal of reality through an innovative use of non-reality. When done right it creates beautifully animated images in the mind of the listener. And Bob was the greatest animator of them all.'

'Virtuality' will be released via CD and download on the anniversary of Bob Moog's birthday, May 23rd 2008. A portion of each sale will be donated to the Bob Moog Foundation."

My Notes:
I have been fortunate enough to listen to the CD in full. I have to say the experience of listening to "Bolero Electronica" while viewing the "Timeline of Synthesizers" is an extremely rare and satisfying treat. I literally could not stop smiling throughout the piece. I do not want to spoil this track for anyone, but let's just say there is nothing I have experienced quite like it. The intro delivers in a way that is simply beyond cool and it just keeps on giving. It is an absolutely brilliant composition for the synth enthusiast. Trust me, you will be able to appreciate this one like no one else. Be sure to click on the timeline image in this post.

If you know "Bolero," it is a piece that starts with just a few instruments and then builds with layered instruments into a triumphant finish. When you listen to "Bolero Electronica" and watch the timeline, you instantly make the connection and realize that this isn't just Bolero done with synths, but literally a redefinition of Bolero as the triumph of synthesizers over time. "Commercial synths" essentially began with MOOG, Buchla, EMS and eventually grew into the myriad of synths we have today. Click on the image in this post that looks like a track listing. That is the actual progression of the piece. When you listen to it, you can literally listen to the evolution of synthesizers over time. Utterly amazing. There are very few tracks that will go down as pivotal in the history of synths. I honestly believe this will be one of them considering what it conveys, the history it speaks. You simply have to hear it to experience it in full. You will find yourself going back to focus on different synths and sound evolution through time via synthesis. It is simply just brilliant.

You can find more info including clips and how to get this CD via The Bob MOOG Foundation.

Update 4/27/17:

The Making of The Interstellar Suite

Published on Apr 27, 2017 Amin Bhatia Composer

The Making of The Interstellar Suite
Directed and produced by Byron Kent Wong
Additional Interviews directed by Saul Pincus
This 18-minute featurette of Amin Bhatia's epic album The Interstellar Suite features interviews with noted artists and engineers:
Steve Porcaro, Patrick Moraz
Frank Morrone, James Porteous, David Greene and Mark Vail
Roland’s esteemed president, the late Ikutaro Kakehashi
The Carolina Crowns Drum Corps!
and many others…

This video is a bonus feature from the The Interstellar Suite Anniversary Limited Edition
Remixed by Frank Morrone from the original multi-tracks.
Under exclusive license from Capitol Records, Inc.
Publishing Bhatia Music Inc.
DVD & Blu-ray Dual Pack and Companion Guide Book available only until May 7, 2017 at http://aminbhatia.com/is25mayday/

Remembering Bob with YouTube Channel Launch

"August 21, 2008 - Remembering Bob and Celebrating Our Second Anniversary with Music for Download and YouTube Channel Launch

Today we pause to reflect on the powerful legacy that we strive to honor and support every day. Bob Moog lives on through his instruments, through the musicians that use them and through the music. Yet Bob's legacy of technical brilliance and creative warmth extends beyond the music community, and touches thousands of people around the world who have been effected by his pioneering career. The Caring Bridge site that Bob's family established for him in the summer of 2005 has now topped 300,000 visitors -- thousands of those people have left heartfelt tributes. Bob lives on in so many ways – the Moog Legacy is rich, vast and varied.

Today we launch a tribute to that legacy in our new YouTube channel. On this channel, you'll find friends, family, colleagues, musicians and music-lovers reflecting on the impact Bob had on their lives, and on the world of music. Featured on this channel is a beautifully crafted video from Amin Bhatia called "Virtuality: The Moog Legacy". You will remember that we featured Amin's "Virtuality" CD in our May newsletter in celebration of Bob's birthday. Now, Amin pays hommage to Bob in this video tribute. It is not to be missed! You can find out more about Amin's CD on his website www.aminbhatia.com.

Many thanks to our summer interns at Steven's Institute of Technology, Andrew Bentz and Ken Bachlor, who, along with their professor David Musial, created this YouTube site for us.

We are also delighted to announce that we now have music for download on our MySpace page. Many of the tracks from our "Mooged-Out: Asheville" CD are available here, and all proceeds from these downloads go to benefit the Bob Moog Foundation. This is an easy, affordable and fun way to support us! The music from this compilation CD is wonderfully varied – and each track offers its own unique Moog sound. Many thanks to our volunteer MySpace Coordinator Wheat Williams for making all of this possible, and to all of the Asheville musicians who have donated their tracks to the foundation. The Mooged-Out CD is available as a gift with a $25.00 donation made here.

Also available for download exclusively on our MySpace page is an original all-Moog composition by synth wizard extraordinaire and Moog enthusiast Erik Norlander. Erik's song "The Princely Hours" offers a stunning tribute to the Moog sound though it's driving beats, ethereal nuances and fantastic leads. Erik used five Moog instruments (and only these instruments!) in the making of this piece: his massive 1967 modular Moog, Minimoog Model D, Taurus pedals, Moog Rogue and Minmoog Voyager. This musical tribute is nothing short of a celebration of the Moog Legacy and an exposition of a stunningly talented musician who carries the torch for that legacy every time he gracefully, knowingly lays his fingers on a synth. Enjoy “The Princely Hours” and help the foundation out by purchasing it today. You can find out more about Erik and his massive modular Moog at www.eriknorlander.com.

Erik's composition also graces the home page of our website. We've made few updates to our website, and will continue to do so over the coming months. You can expect new content, photo galleries, music and announcements each time you visit. Be sure to check the new Letter from the Executive Director here.

Bob's life and work serve as a huge source of inspiration for us here at the foundation. We hope that you will pause today and reflect on how he lives on in your life.

The Bob Moog Foundation

Make Waves by donating to the Bob Moog Foundation"

Happy Birthday Bob Moog, from Stevie Wonder

YouTube Published on May 23, 2012 by MoogMusicInc

"In a wonderful and impromptu honor to Bob Moog on his 78th birthday, the legend himself Stevie Wonder, sings happy birthday to Dr. Moog. Stevie makes the bday wishes extra funky with a talkbox and the instrument that inspired the immensely popular Moog Google Doodle, the Minimoog Voyager, Bob Moog's most popular analog synthesizer design.

Mr. Wonder has shared a life-long history with Moog synthesizers beginning in the early-mid 1970s when he released a series of chart topping records including "Talking Book" that made extensive use of Moog synthesizers. He is a musical genius and from everyone at Moog Music: WE LOVE YOU, STEVIE!

Visit www.moogmusic.com to learn more about about Bob Moog and the handcrafted instrument company that bears his name."

Celebrating Bob Moog's 86th Birthday

Published on Oct 12, 2011 xBlame2workshopx

The Music History Project · Ep. 11 - Dr. Robert Moog

Bob Moog would have been 86 today. Above is Hans Fjellestad’s Moog documentary followed by an episode of The Music History Project’s podcast on the legacy of Bob Moog.

And a note from Moog Music:

"Today we celebrate synthesizer pioneer and our founder Bob Moog on his 86th birthday. Bob's inventions have forever changed the way we hear our world, inspiring generations to explore the magic of electronic sound, discover new forms of expression, and value the way that music connects us as human beings. His innovative spirit continues to inspire us each day, and we are forever grateful to be a part of this creative legacy.

More Ways to Celebrate Bob
Create your own music with the free Minimoog Model D iOS app.

Share a memory or musical creation online using #CelebrateBob.

Try your hand at this interactive Google Doodle, originally shared by Google on Bob's birthday in 2012.

Watch Hans Fjellestad’s Moog documentary.

Listen to this episode of The Music History Project’s podcast.

Learn more about electronic music pioneers and Moog Music’s history.

Encourage creativity all around you!"

It's Bob Moog's Birthday Today!

In case you didn't know, Bob Moog would have been 83 today. The following are two tweets from Moog Music and one from the Bob Moog Foundation.

Thank you Bob!

via @moogmusicinc

"#HappyBirthday Bob Moog ❤️"

via @moogmusicinc

"Happy Birthday, Bob! Your days on this earth inspire every step we take in this life.

Love, all of the employee-owners at Moog Music."

via @MoogFoundation

"Happy Birthday to Bob, who would have been 83 today! #Inspiration #Innovation #creativity #humility #Moog #synth #analog #CelebrateBob"

One Minute of Noise for Bob Moog by Astronauta Pinguim

One minute of NOISE to celebrate Robert Moog's birthday (by Astronauta Pinguim)

YouTube Published on May 23, 2012 by astronautapinguim

"Instead of the traditional 'one minute of silence' I propose the way much better "ONE MINUTE OF NOISE" to celebrate Robert Moog's birthday!!!!!!

Moog instruments in this video:
- Minimoog model D
- Polymoog synthesizer
- Moog Prodigy
- Moog "The Source"
- Moog 1125 sample and hold
- Moog Etherwave Plus Theremin

Check: www.astronautapinguim.blogspot.com"

Check out Astronauta Pinguim's Moog tattoo posted earlier.

Happy Birthday Herb Deutsch!

In case you missed it, Herb Deutsch turned 90 today! See Moog Music's GIANTS | Herb Deutsch and The Bog Moog Foundation post featuring a video of Herb and a raffle for a Minimoog Model D signed by him.

You can find numerous posts mentioning Herb Deutsch in previous posts here.

Rather than go with a classic shot of Herb with a Moog synthesizer, I thought I'd go with what is currently featured on Wikipedia. Why? Why not? It's a reflection of popular culture outside of our inner synth community, and it's interesting in that this is the image they selected for him. It's also a great shot! 

Here's a blurb from Wikipedia:

"Herbert A. Deutsch (born February, 1932) is an American composer, inventor, and educator. Currently professor emeritus of electronic music and composition at Hofstra University, he is best known for co-inventing the Moog Synthesizer with Bob Moog in 1964.

Deutsch had assembled a theremin based on Moog's design in 1962 and in November, 1963 he introduced himself to Moog at a music-education conference in Rochester, NY.[1] In 1964 Moog and Deutsch started investigating the possibilities of a new instrument to aid composers.[2] Deutsch has been credited with the keyboard interface of the Moog.[2] He composed the first piece ever for the Moog ("Jazz Images - A Worksong and Blues"[1]) and performed early Moog concerts at The Town Hall and The Museum of Modern Art in New York (1969's Jazz in the Garden [3]).[4] The prototype Moog synthesizer, developed by Bob Moog and Herbert Deutsch in 1964, is part of the collections of The Henry Ford museum.[5]

Deutsch is a dedicated educator. In the early 1970s he taught at St. Agnes High School in Rockville Centre, New York. He has taught at Hofstra University for over 50 years and was twice the chair of the music department. Deutsch co-founded the Long Island Composers Alliance in 1972, and works with music foundation NYSSMA. In 1994 he proposed its Electronic Music Composition Showcase.[6]"

Happy birthday Herb! :)

Bob’s Electric Birthday ⚡at the Moogseum with Patrick Gleeson

via The Bob Moog Foundation

Celebrate Bob Moog’s 89th “Electric Birthday” at the Moogseum With Us!

Join us at the Moogseum on Tuesday, May 23, what would have been Bob's 89th birthday, as we welcome modular synthesis pioneer Patrick Gleeson as our guest presenter, offer rare guided museum tours with our executive director, Michelle Moog-Koussa (Bob's daughter) and share coffee, cake, and champagne during a deep dive into the history of synthesis.

Get tickets here. Space is extremely limited, and synth community members are already attending from as far away as Georgia and Massachusetts.

“Bob’s Electric Birthday” also includes a live demo of the vintage Moog modular heard on the soundtrack to “Apocalypse Now” from legendary synthesizer pioneer, composer, producer, and Herbie Hancock collaborator Patrick Gleeson -- a lifelong friend of Bob Moog.

This is followed by an interview with Michelle Moog-Koussa about his storied career, followed by a short DJ set from Dr. Gleeson.

Minimoog, Memorymoog & E-mu Drumulator Bob Moog Birthday Track

VVD - Moog Minimoog + Memorymoog + E-mu Drumulator "Happy Birthday, Robert Moog!"

YouTube Published on May 23, 2012 by 1314matt

"The twelfth combination.

'Happy Birthday, Robert Moog!'

Bass: Moog Minimoog (VST, Arturia)
PWM Strings: Moog Memorymoog (VST, Memorymoon)
Drums: E-mu Drumulator (VST, Arturia)

Inspired by retrosound72, demo by Virtual Vintage Dreams.

This track should only demonstrate the capabilities of these VST instruments and isn't meant to be a professional composition.

I do not own the rights for the pictures, all rights belong to their respective owners.

More info:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Virtual-Vintage-Dreams-VVD/230017137043925

http://soundcloud.com/matt1314-vvd"

Bob Moog Foundation & Moog Music Inc Fundraiser

You might notice the new banner above [banner was up on May 23 - added below for the archives]. It will be up for the day in celebration of the anniversary of Bob Moog's birthday. It will take you to Moog Music's Merchandise page. You can get to other merchandise via the Products drop down menu when you get there. In case you missed it, catch the full post on the fundraiser with videos here. If you ever considered picking up some Moog bling, now would be a good time.

"In celebration of Bob Moog’s 78th birthday Moog Music, Inc. will donate 50% of all online clothing and merchandise sales on May 23rd to the Bob Moog Foundation. For every $350 raised, the company will also donate one Etherwave Theremin to the Foundation’s educational initiative, Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool, to complete the DBSS Educational Kit that is provided to each participating school. Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool teaches elementary school students the science of sound through the magic of music..."

Full disclosure: the banner above is not a paid advertisement. It's my contribution to the cause. See the Moog and BMF labels below for more coverage of everything Moog and BMF.

Moog Doodle Hack from Max6 for Bob Moog's birthday !

YouTube Published on May 23, 2012 by julienbayle

"(Stay tune about the latest software I'm releasing on app store these days: http://youtu.be/r_8rpgIlzUU)

Google Made us a great present today for the Bob Moog's birthday: The Moog Doodle.
Because I like to hack, to play, because I like random noises & strange shuffle, I made this little hack simulating mouse cursor movement & click from Max/MSP (= Max6 today..)

I also used Ableton Live to play some 808 beats using some follow actions & tricky clip launching options we, certified trainers, only know :D Kidding. You can do that easily.

And here is that electronic glitchy & software hack strange result: The Acid Bob's Birthday !

MAke more like to totally control the synth from Ableton Live or any MIDI player would be easy.
As soon as you have the "box" that convert a MIDI note pitch into a position on the screen, you can do that.
I'm SORRY I don't have time for that right now.. But we can discuss about that on http://designthemedia.com/index my forums)


Feel free to comment, critic, yell, flatter etc
My blog is http://julienbayle.ne
My softwares are at http://designthemedia.com"

ENTER THE MIND OF MOOG

Celebrating Bob’s 75th Birthday

May 21, 2009

The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC

"Enter the Mind of Moog will be a golden opportunity to experience a working version of the planned Moogseum as the Bob Moog Foundation will transform the Orange Peel into an educational sonic playground for all ages. Upon entering the venue, attendees will be immersed in an interactive experience guiding them through the work and life of synthesizer pioneer and innovator Bob Moog. All proceeds from the evening will benefit the Foundation’s hallmark project, the Moogseum, to be located in Asheville, NC.

Interactive instrument-based exhibits will be set up to connect attendees to the unique sounds and interfaces that helped make the Moog name a legacy in the worlds of science, music and innovation. Highlights include a “Theremin Tour”, where visitors will be guided by Bob Moog Foundation volunteers to play the early electronic musical instrument in various audio configurations as well as see it used as a video mixing tool, the “Synthesizer Lounge”, comprised of a bay of synthesizers available for attendees to explore and the Moogerfooger Remix Station which will highlight the power of the the Moog signal processing tools. Attendees are encouraged to bring their iPods or other playback devices to remix original music through Moog equipment.

The Interactive Timeline will guide the viewer through specific eras of Moog’s career and document the evolution of the Bob Moog Foundation. The Bob Moog Foundation will unveil a Mini-Moogseum installation to be featured permanently at the Orange Peel. The Mini-Moogseum, a beautiful showcase crafted by Chris Perryman of Domus Aurea Woodworking, will house a small exhibit of the pioneer’s archives, tell the story of his impact on the world of music, highlight his connection to the Asheville community and feature a custom built theremin, designed by Bob’s former student and protege, Steve Dunnington."

More info on the Bob Moog Foundation Blog

Google Celebrates Bob Moog

I thought I'd start the day with a post in honor of Bob Moog. He would have been 78 today - in Japan that is. :) Bob Moog's birthday is technically tomorrow, May 23. It's still the 22nd in the US, UK and Europe, but not in Japan and soon the rest of Asia. Midnight hit just over an hour ago and in honor of Bob Moog's birthday, Google Japan has the playable image to the left on their homepage: www.google.co.jp/ (thanks goes to synthwood for sending it in)! A little birdy told me there would be something big at midnight tonight, I'm hopeing this will be on the rest of Google's local homepages. Think about it. For one day, all of the world will see this. That is pretty awesome.

Don't forget Moog Music will be donating 50% of all online clothing and merchandise to the Bob Moog Foundation and for every $350 they will donate one Etherwave Theremin to the Foundation's educational program, Dr. Bob's SoundSchool. It's a great initiative to bring arts and electronic music to kids. You can find the full details including videos in this post.

Moog Music clothing and merchandise can be purchased from the company’s online store: www.moogmusic.com/products/clothing and http://www.moogmusic.com/products/Merch

Update: it's also on https://www.google.com.au/ and it is playable.

Moog Music Pays Tribute to Bob Moog on His Birthday

via Moog Music

"Today marks what would have been the 81st birthday of Dr. Bob Moog, founder of Moog Music. His physical presence has been deeply missed over the last ten years as we strive to carry on his legacy of designing and building tools that inspire artists to create. Gratefully, Bob's innovative spirit is embedded in the Moog factory and lives on in every artist, engineer, designer, maker and musician that continues to be inspired by his life's work.

If Bob has inspired you, please take time today to share photos, music and stories that honor Bob's contributions to music and celebrate his life.

Happy birthday and #ThankYouBob

Love,
Your family at Moog"

Hollow Sun Promotes Bob Moog Foundation with Atomic Shadow

via Hollow Sun Records

"Atomic Shadow shares the same birth date (May 23rd) as the late, great Dr Robert Moog. inventor of the Moog synthesiser.

In recognition of this coincidence, for a limited time, we've decided to make The Shadow's first two albums, 'Project Berna' and 'Creatures From Beyond', available for just £3 each with all proceeds to be donated to the Bob Moog Foundation.

The Bob Moog Foundation ignites the innovator in us all through exposure to interactive educational experiences that draw from Dr. Bob Moog's legacy of groundbreaking work at the intersection of music, science, and imagination.

Maverick electronic explorer, Atomic Shadow, is at the forefront of modern abstract electronica using as he does true retro equipment from the 50s and 60s ... test oscillators, reel-to-reel tape machines for feeding in tape loops or tape delays, etc., and a hint of modernity with MoogerFooger pedals. His music invokes influences from the likes of Tod Dockstader, the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and others. Atomic Shadow's electronica is moody and dark, sometimes chilling, sometimes challenging, sometimes whimsical, always intriguing.

He was recently runner up in the London Science Museum's 'Oramix' remix competition judged by Brian Eno, DJ Spooky and The Wire.

He also recently won the 'I Dream Of Wires' modular synth award with exemptions and exceptions that although his wall of retro gear isn't exactly a 'modular synth' per se and pre-dates Dr Moog's classic designs, it represents instead the kind of music laboratories of the early pioneers which Bob Moog rationalised into the synthesisers we know today


The Shadow says of his contribution...

'The futuristic sounds of the early pioneers of electronic music captured my imagination as a child and continues to influence my work to this day. Dr. Bob was one of these pioneers. From his early love of the Theremin to his ground breaking modular instruments, through the innovative keyboards that have appeared on countless classic and modern recordings. This legacy must be preserved for our children and I am happy to give the Bob Moog Foundation my support. Through their efforts, the next generation of music and engineering pioneers may be inspired to dream, innovate and create the sounds for an entirely new world of tomorrow...'" Catch the full post and the releases at Hollow Sun Records. And of course, Happy Birthday Bob Moog and Atomic Shadow!


The following is a composite sampler of Atomic Shadow's "Berna Suite".




"Compilation/remix of Atomic Shadow's 'Project Berna' album which, along with his 'Creatures From Beyond', is being sold for a limited time with all proceeds going to the Bob Moog Foundation.

The Shadow shares the same birth date as the late, great Dr Bob so what better way to mark that coincidence.

@AtomicShadow

Please buy these albums (a mere £3.00 (approx $4.5) each) to not only contribute to a great cause but to also have two fantastic albums of abstract electronica in your collection."

http://www.hollowsunrecords.co.uk/bmf/
http://www.facebook.com/BobMoogFoundation

Moog Music Pays Tribute to Bernie Worrell

via Moog Music

"Today we say a very sad and hard goodbye to beloved Moog family member, Bernie Worrell.

As the founding keyboardist and musical director for Parliament Funkadelic, Bernie's pioneering use of the Minimoog laid the foundation for P-Funk's futuristic sound. Despite his many musical accomplishments, it’s his joyful soul and gentle heart that touched everyone at Moog most. He is the father of Moog bass and the auteur of the funkiest basslines in history - “so wide you can’t get around them, so low you can’t get under them”. Worrell’s bass never reaches the bottom, it wobbles your inner being and oscillates your soul. His grooves were three-dimensional, and they have the timeless power to unite people under the power of their groove.

Bernie Worrell lived a lifetime of music. A child prodigy, Bernie began piano lessons at age 3, gave his first classical concert at 4 and had composed his first concerto by age 8. His gift of perfect pitch guided him through Juilliard and the New England Conservatory of Music, where he developed an affinity for ELP records and Keith Emerson’s use of the Moog synthesizer, inspiring him to acquire one of the new Moog instruments for himself. Like Emerson before him, Bernie Worrell’s command of the synthesizer would shape a new sound for the future. Bernie’s analog basslines for Parliament Funkadelic were the substructure for the band’s inter-dimensional operas and remain foundational to this day; as one of history’s most sampled artists, Bernie’s sonic vocabulary is heard prominently in the works of hip-hop’s most impactful producers- a lasting testament to his unique ability to move the masses. Bernie’s contributions to modern music cannot be understated, without him, there would be no funk.

Our fondest memories are of Bernie joining us for many Moogfest’s to celebrate the spirit of his friend, Bob Moog. Bernie received the Bob Moog Legacy Award in 2008 for his groundbreaking use of the synthesizer and celebrated his 70th birthday at Moogfest 2014. Just last month at Moogfest 2016, Bernie surprised his fans with an intimate impromptu performance with one of the first new Minimoogs produced in over 40 years. Bernie was a beacon of kindness and warmth, we gravitated to the pull of his heart whenever we were blessed with his presence.

Thank you for blessing us with the funk of life and the deep magic of the groove, Bernie. The Moog family is forever grateful to you for opening the door to new dimensions. You are a true wizard.

Love, your friends at Moog"

Synthesizer Ads From the Past - PPG Monkey, PRISM, DCS II, Synthia and More

You'll find the scans on Scott From Canada

Also check out scott3eh on Flickr
Some of the rarer items pictured here:
Adaptive Systems Synthia 1980
Kinetic Sound Prism 1980
Strider DCS II
Synclavier II Terminal Support Package 1981
Wersi Condor DMS 1984
Bob Moog on the Fairlight

The full list at the time of this post:
Adaptive Systems Synthia 1980
Akai AX80 1984
Aries Modular 1977
arp omni-2 ad 1980
Crumar Stratus 1981
crumar t1-b ad 1980
Emulator 1 1982
Ensoniq ESQ-1 1986
Fairlight-bob moog 1982
hohnar keyboards ad 1980

CLICK FOR MORE »

An Audio Interview with Robert Moog Circa 1980

Back on May 23, 2012 WNYC posted the above interview with Bob Moog from 1980 on NPR member station, WQXR's This is My Music (WQXR featured Clara Rockmore on theremin only a year earlier).  The interview was shared in memory and celebration of Bob Moog's birthday, May 23.

"The Archives Department celebrates Robert Moog's 78th birthday with this 1980s episode of WQXR's This is My Music. Host Lloyd Moss talks with the inventor and musical pioneer and plays selections from Moog's library of compositions and influences. The program includes a virtuosic performance of Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No. 2 adapted for theremin and piano.

[Please note: The featured audio is a transfer from a cassette tape. Quality varies throughout the recording]

Dr. Robert 'Bob' Arthur Moog (May 23, 1934 – August 21, 2005) may be best known as the inventor of the Moog Synthesizer, one of the most widely used and popular instruments of its kind. In this episode of This is My Music, Moog discusses the origins of his musical education, his inventions, and the recordings he enjoys most, which include the following:

Sinfonia, from Cantata No. 29, by Johann Sebastian Bach
Excerpt from Violin Concerto No. 2, by Henryk Wieniawski (adapted for the theremin), performed by Clara Rockmore with Nadia Reisenberg on piano
Excerpt from Requiem, by Gabriel Fauré, performed by Lucia Popp and Simon Estes
Fantasie Impromptu, by Fréderic Chopin, performed by Murray Perahia
'Incantation,' from Beauty in the Beast, by Wendy Carlos performed by Wendy Carlos"

Harold Bode's Birthday & the Bode Ring Modulator Schematics

via The Bob Moog Foundation

"It’s the birthday of Harald Bode (1909-1987), German-born pioneer in synthesizer design and inventor of the Warbo Formant Organ (one of the earliest polyphonic synths), the Melochord, and the Bode Frequency Shifter, among many other instruments and devices.

Bode and Bob Moog began to work together in 1966, and this ring modulator is an indication of their partnership. Bode’s Ring Modulator and Frequency Shifter designs were implemented in R.A. Moog Co. products, and his vocoder was the basis for the Moog Vocoder released in the 1970s.

The schematic below was hand-drawn by Bob Moog himself. (Note the the “B.S.” in the “drawn by” square. In order to keep from having his initials in all the boxes when he drew up a certain schematic, Bob would use joke initials B.S.) Image: Bob Moog Foundation schematic for the Bode Ring Modulator. Many more Bob Moog Foundation archival schematics here: http://moogfoundation.org/schematics/"

"Warbo Formant Organ (1937), an archetype of today's polyphonic synthesizer, was a four voice key-assignment keyboard with two formant filters and dynamic envelope controller. Eventually it went into commercial production by a factory in Dachau, and it became one of the earliest polyphonic synthesizer products, along with Novachord (1939) by Hammond.

Melochord (1947–1949) developed by Bode was extensively used by Werner Meyer-Eppler in early days of the electronic studio at Bonn University. Then in 1953 a Melochord, along with Monochord by Freidrich Trautwein, was specially commissioned by the Studio for Electronic Music of the Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR Studio in Cologne, West German Broadcasting Corporation), and used by the Elektronische Musik group throughout the 1950s. (See #Melochord at the WDR Studio in Cologne for details)

From 1950, Bode designed electronic organs for the Apparatewerk Bayern (AWB) in Germany and the Estey Organ Company in the United States. In 1954, Bode immigrated to the United States as a chief engineer (later vice-president) of Estey Organ, and resumed his research at several companies and as a contractor of German companies.

In 1959-1960, Bode developed modular synthesizer and sound processor, and in 1961, he wrote a paper exploring the advantages of newly emerging transistor technology over older vacuum tube devices; also he served as AES session chairman on music and electronic for the fall conventions in 1962 and 1964; after then, his ideas were adopted by Robert Moog, Donald Buchla and others.

After retiring from the chief engineer of Bell Aerospace in 1974, he composed TV-advertising spots and gave live concerts. Also in 1977, Harald was invited as a chief engineer of the Norlin/Moog Music after Robert Moog left.

He died in New York, New York, United States in 1987."

BOB MOOG'S LEGACY TALK WITH ROGER LUTHER

via The History Center:

"In honor of what would be Bob Moog's 80th birthday, The History Center in Tompkins County, in partnership with Moog Archives presents a presentation on R. A. Moog, Co. and Bob Moog's legacy, given by Moog expert Roger Luther.

Memories of Robert A. Moog, his pioneering work in Electronic Music Instrumentation, and the company he started, on what would have been his 80th birthday.

With a background in electronic music composition, Roger Luther first visited Robert Moog's company in 1971. The following year he joined the company as a synthesizer technician and tuner. He continued with the company through a series of ownerships, eventually serving as General Manager, until the business closed 22 years later.

In 1999 he established MoogArchives.com, a website about Moog's pioneering work, the R.A. Moog Company and the series of companies that evolved from that original facility..."

Apologies for not seeing and posting this one earlier. I just found out. Hopefully it will be captured for all of us who couldn't make it.