UNIT 6

Electronic Music Overview

Step 1

Use adjectives to describe the sounds of the following electronic instruments

A.  Teleharmonium - odd, static, boring, plain, bland

B.  Ondesmartenot - foreign, exotic, creepy, discomforting, wavey, trippy

C.  Synth Clavier - relaxing, cheerful, bubbly, magical

D.  Korg Vocoder - advanced, modern, strong, technical, robotic

E.  Yamaha EX7 - chilling, icy, deep, outlandish, spacey, powerful, realistic

Step 2
Answer the following questions after viewing Bob Moog
1.  How was Moog's original music and instruments received by the masses?

It wasn't considered natural or right. People were discomforted and suspicious because of  it. Anything that didn't come out of a woodwind, brass, or string instrument was thought of as harmful.
2.  Before 1968 how much electric music was being heard?

Almost no music had been heard using electronic music but sound effects were heard on TV.
3.  The album that changed the view of electronic music was entitled _________________.

Switched-On Bach
4.  Moog's original Synth modules were built in what year?

1964
5.  Vladamir Ussachevsky defined specific controls that shape the sound. The control was called the ________________.

Envelope 
6.  How does Moog view the relationship between the circuit board and the human mind?

What is happening on the circuit board is also occurring in the human mind. It's spiritual by connecting things not seen directly with thing sensed by our forces.

Step 3

Leonard Theremin's Life in America

After Leon Theremin travelled all around Europe, displaying his invention to audiences all around the continent, he ended up traveling to the United States. He travelled there with his future wife, and Theremin performed the theremin in New York and patented his invention. He then proceeded to set up his laboratory in New York, where he continued his experiments and advancements of previous inventions. This was created in the 1930's, which is also when he conducted the first electronic orchestra. Around that time, he worked along with a close friend named Clara Rockmore, who he had proposed to multiple times, but always got rejected. He then proceeded to later divorce Kaita, his wife at the time, and marry an African-American ballerina named Lavinia Williams. Lavinia and Leon stayed together even though it was looked down upon by his social circles. At that time, it was believed that Theremin's mentors were people such as Joseph Schillinger and Albert Einstein.

Leonard Theremin's Inventions

Rhythmicon - also known as the Polyrhythmophone, was the world's first electronic drum machine created in 1930. Henry Cowell wanted an instrument that would play compositions involving multiple rhythmic patterns impossible for one person to perform simultaneously on an acoustic keyboard or percussion instruments.

The Thing - also known as the Great Seal bug, was one of the 1st covert listening devices to use passive techniques to transmit an audio signal. This Thing was used by the Soviets to spy on the United States around the 1940s.

Security alarm - a system designed to detect intrusion,  into a specific area or building. Security alarms can be used for personal protection against said intrusions. They are also often used in residential, commercial, military, and industrial buildings for protection against burglary or damage to anything within those areas.

Theremin - an instrument that is considered the first electronic musical instrument. It is used without having any physical contact from the thereminist. To play the instrument, the performer must move their hands to the correct position above the instrument to control the volume and pitch that is produced.

Interlaced video -  interlacing was a technique used to not use extra bandwidth and could double the the perceived frame rate of a video display. This was a very good technique for low-budget visuals because it helped reduce the amount of bandwidth required, which can be quite expensive. 

Terpsitone - another electronic instrument created by Leonard Theremin. The instrument was nearly impossible to control and there were only 3 of them built, and only one is still around within modern society.

Theremin cello - yet another electronic instrument created by Leon Theremin. Although this one was often used in the 1930s by a number of musicians, it was later removed from orchestras when the members complained of a sickness due to the subsonic rumblings of the cello. 

Leonard Theremin's Life in Moscow

Leon eventually ended up spending the rest of his life in Moscow after his release from the secret laboratory (sharashka; see below). By the time of his release he remarried yet again, to his third wife, Maria Guschina. Maria and Leon had two children. For the rest of his life he continued working not only on the advancement of his inventions, but teaching others about them as well. For 10 years he worked and taught at the Moscow Conservatory of Music. Theremin was later dismissed from the conservatory whenever the chief music critic of The New York Times visited and mentioned Theremin in one of his articles. The managing director of the conservatory stated that "electricity is not good for music; electricity should be used for electrocution." He then proceeded to remove all of the instruments, ban electronic music projects, and dismissed Theremin from the conservatory. Leon then proceeded to move on to work as a Professor of Physics at Moscow State University in the 1970's, where he could continue to develop his inventions even further. He then began traveling again, after spending roughly 50 years within the Soviet Union. Theremin travelled to France and then New York, where he was reunited with his old friend Clara Rockmore. Before he died, he made a demonstration concert in the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in early 1993. Leon died at the age of 97 in the year 1993 when he was in Moscow.

The Outcome of his Rescue

Around 1938, Leon Theremin apparently returned to the Soviet Union. People did not know of the real reason until many years later, but the answer was still unclear. His wife had stated that she had seen that he had been kidnapped from his studio. Lavinia also stated that she had seen some Russians come into the studio and she was scared that he was going to be taken out of the United States. There were multiple reasons flying around as to why Leon left the United States, such as him having financial issues in the United States or his anxiety revolving around the upcoming war. After his return to the Soviet Union he was imprisoned and then sent to work within gold mines. Rumors started spreading through published media as well as talked among people about his execution. This was, in fact, false. Instead of being executed, Leon was sent to a secret laboratory to work with other scientists and engineers. He was restored (or rehabilitated) by the Soviet Union in 1956.

Electronic Music Research
Step 1

Explore the Evolution of Western Dance Music

Explore the History of Electronic Music Time Line

Step 2
Use Innovators and their Instruments to create a brief outline of the major advancements in the evolution of electronic instruments

1876 Elisha Gray - Musical Telegraph

  • Elisha Gray was an American electrical engineer
  • He is best known for his prototype for the telephone
  • He is also considered the father of the modern music synthesizer
  • The first musical synthesizer, created in 1876
  • This invention was accidentally created and discovered as a by-product of telephone technology
  • Gray discovered that he could control sound from a self-vibrating electromagnetic circuit
  • Musical Telegraphs use steel reeds oscillated by electromagnets and transmitted over a telephone line
  • Elisha Gray later built a loudspeaker device into later models

1920 Leon Theremin - Theremin

  • Leon Theremin was a Russian and Soviet inventor
  • He invented the interlace, but is most famous for creating the Theremin, which is considered the first electronic musical instruments
  • The Theremin is controlled with no actual physical contact from the thereminist
  • The instrument is controlled by the performer's right and left hands moving above the instrument
  • There are antennas on the Theremin that sense the performer's relative position of their hands
  • This then controls the volume with one hand and the pitch with the other

1934 Laurens Hammond - Hammond Organ

  • Laurens Hammond was an American businessman and inventor
  • He worked in an automobile concern in 1920, but also worked on personal inventions in secret
  • After creating the soundless clock, Hammond quit his job and dedicated his life to experimentation
  • The Hammond Organ is often used as the standard keyboard instrument for jazz, blues, rock, and gospel music
  • It was originally used as a low-cost instrument for churches
  • In the mid-1970s, the last Hammond Organ came off of assembly

1957 Herbert Belar and Harry Olson at RCA - RCA Mark II Sound Synthesizer

  • RCA was a big manufacturer in the 1950s, where they made military electronics and consumer entertainment devices
  • Research in musical instruments was also a main focus of RCA for a brief moment
  • The Mark I was created in the 1940s when Olson and Belar were interested in making electronic music
  • The Mark I used a bank of 12 oscillator circuits, allowing the sounds to be shaped in limitless ways
  • Users could often create weird sounds, but it was impossible to create sounds similar to human voices
  • Mark I punched holes in a long role of paper similar to the one used on a player piano
  • Music was produced whenever the roll was fed into machine and it was read
  • Mark I's success eventually helped create the Mark II, which had a larger range of tones

1962 Robert Moog - MOOG Synthesizer

  • Robert Moog was intelligent, but was more interested in electrical engineering instead of things such as piano lessons
  • When Moog was 14, he built a theremin
  • Albums such as Switched-On Bach, Abbey Road, and A Clockwork Orange used Moog's instruments since they were inexpensive to rock musicians in the 1960s
  • In the 1950s, The Moog company was the pioneered of commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled analog synthesizer systems
  • The Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967 created a bunch of attention for Moog synthesizers
  • After the creation of Switched-On Bach, the Moog synthesizer became very popular
  • In 1974, Kraftwerk's album Autobahn used several synthesizers, including the Minimoog, further popularized the sound of synthesizers
  • Later Moog systems were improved so that they could be included in live performances
  • The 1970s most popular monophnic synthesizer was the Minimoog

 

Step 3

Ambient Music - 1970's - Present

Ambient music developed in the U.K. around the 1970's. This was around when synthesizers were being introduced to larger groups of people. It is said that this is a genre of music that puts an emphasis on certain areas of tone and atmosphere that traditional music does not. This makes it very unique, but the music must be "as ignorable as it is interesting."

Breakbeat - 1980's - Present  

Subgenres such as bigbeat, funky breaks, and nu skool breaks all fall under the "parent" genre that is called Breakbeat. Breakbeat is one of the oldest types of electronic dance music, making itself a major genre within electronic music from the 80's and so on. The genre's name itself can be broken down to help define the meaning of the music and how it sounds. The word "break" in Breakbeat comes from the word "breakdown", which can be defined as the part in music where almost all of the other instruments fall off except for the drummer and a possible additional accompainment. This effect creates a new tune within that song.

Techno - 1980's

The first recorded use of the word "techo" was in 1988, setting this genre around the late 80's. Detroit is the originator of techno, and Detroit techno is seen as the foundation of the genre and all of its subgenres. Techno emerged from the result of combining multiple genres such as Chicago house, funk, electro, etc. This genre is often seen involved in the use of DJ sets, drum machines, synthesizers, and digital audio workstations. Techno is mainly revolved around the idea of using music production technology and electronic music systems.

House - 1980's - Present

Originated in Chicago in the 1980's, House music quickly spread to Detroit, New York, and Newark. In the later 80's, House music became popular in Europe, South America, and Australia. It was soon infused with modern pop and dance music world-wide. House music usually consisted of drum machines, off-beat hi-hat cymbals, and synthesized baselines. It can usually be referenced to as a more minimalistic disco style of music.

Drum and Bass/ Jungle - 1990's -Present

Drum and Bass, also known as Jungle, is a genre a bit similar to dubstep that originated in England. The genre was created around the 1990's. This genre is easily identifiable by its heavy bass and sub-bass line as well as fast breakbeats. Jamaican dub and reggae sound has had a major influence on the way Drum and Bass sounds. This genre really hasn't left England, but is known by people if they adventure around all genres of music.

Trance - 1990's -Present

Trance music can be identified by its repeated melodies and musical form that builds up and down throughout the majority of tracks. This genre originates from the 1990's in Germany. Assorted percussion sounds were included to show foreshadowing or the building up of tension within a piece. Usually a hi-hat is placed on every off-beat and a kick drum is placed on every downbeat. Trance music started out a bit slower when it was first created, but has increased in tempo as time has gone on. This genre can be identified from techno when the two are compared because it has less percussion and more melodies that are arpeggiated and repetitive.

Downtempo - 1990's  

Downtempo is very similar to ambient music, but it often contains a beat or a groove. Downtempo is also referred to as chillout, chill, or downbeat. This genre usually contains a calmer, quieter, slower, and more simple beat compared to other electronic music genres. Downtempo is probably the least intense out of all of the electronic music genres. Due to its relaxing feeling, it is often played in cafes or more romantic settings. This is quite different from other electronic music genres which are often associated with intense parties or clubs. I believe Downtempo could even be associated to as an electronic lullaby.

Trap - Early 2000's 

The term "trap" originates from Atlanta, Georgia, where it was often used by rappers within that area. The term was used to describe rappers that often focused their music and lyrics around drug dealing. This genre often includes lots of buildups involving a pounding bass drum followed by a "drop". Sometimes the track may place this "drop" on an offbeat so that the listener is a bit startled by its placing. The atmosphere of this music is often considered "overall dark, grim, and bleak". Trap music has many layers added upon it, almost making it feel a bit overwhelming.

Step 4

The Walkman - early 1980's [link]

The Walkman was the start and foundation of portable music. The idea for a portable music device first came up when the co-founder of Sony, the creators of the Walkman, wished to listen to his operas whenever he was on his plane trips. The sound was transmitted from the cassette tape through the headphones and to the ears of the listener. The Walkman made "lost time", such as travelling to and from areas upon a college campus, more enjoyable for individuals as they could listen to their favorite tunes as they walked. This device included the ability to travel with music that only the one individual would listen to, that previous inventions did not include. Although this did not greatly contribute to the development of electronic instruments used today, it definitely impacted the ways we get our music and listen to it.

MTV - 1981 [link]

MTV, the abbriviation for Music Television, came out around 1981. It's sole purpose was to provide the watcher with not only music, but visuals that were based on the music itself. This greatly differed from any previous thing seen before by the people of this age. The main feature MTV included that was different from previous inventions was that it included music videos that went along with the music as well as VJs (video jockeys). This lead to the access of music videos on the internet today, and inspired artists to create videos that would represent what their music was conveying. Not only did they represent their ideas musically, but they could now have it shown visually for tons of individuals to see. MTV highlighted songs and made them much more popular in the 80's, not only for their astounding music but for their amazing videos that went along with it. Some artists even created mini movies, such as Michael Jackson's Thriller.

 

iPod - 2001 [link]

The iPod was a huge advancement from the Walkman, making it much easier to transport your music from place to place. Not only was it smaller, but it could actually store songs within its memory. This is the big feature and change from the Walkman. Instead of having to carry around a bunch of cassettes so you could switch between different artists and albums, everything was saved right there within the palm of your hand. This, yet again, made music even more accessible compared to before. The iPod has affected modern culture overall, creating a newer concept that no one really expected would happen. Everyone could access more music wherever they went, and it was much easier to travel with compared to previous inventions.

 

Youtube - 2005 [link]

Youtube can be considered almost the modern MTV. Almost everyone that has access to the internet has at least heard of Youtube, which has become one of the biggest websites on the internet. Youtube gives the user access to not only all of the older music videos, but newer ones as well. Sure, it does include other assorted videos, but that is not my main focus. Youtube's main feature that differs from MTV is that it allows you to see any music video at any time you wish to see it. Instead of watching the TV and waiting for your favorite music video to come on, you could just search it and immediately watch it. This lead to music being not only music easier to find but also showed users other benefits, such as tutorials on how to use all sorts of different instruments. Youtube has allowed users to not only spread their music within their country, but gives them the potential to become noticed world-wide. Examples of this are artists such as PSY and other Korean Pop artists that have become more popular in areas such as North America and Europe.