Music for Electronic & Older Instruments

various artists compilation - Music for Electronic & Older Instruments

LP released during the 1960s

*Thanks to Caitlyn for letting me use her photo of her cover. Go check out her blog for more music including her own compilations and mixes of the latest music and an awesome post of a rare 10" of early experimental electronic music by Herbert Brun.

Speaking of early experimental electronic music, it's been overdue for an appearance in this blog. There should be more coming soon.

Tape sounds on all tracks on side 1 produced at the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center, New York

Performers:

CONCERTED PIECE FOR TAPE RECORDER AND ORCHESTRA

Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Jose Serebrier - conductor

EVENTS for tape recorder

Voices: Mildred Dunnock, Martha Scott, Lee Bowman

IMPROVISATION

Ward Davenny - piano; Keith Wilson - clarinet; David Schwartz - viola

TWO PRAYER SETTINGS

New York Chamber Soloists; Charles Bressler - tenor; Melvin Kaplan - conductor

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Otto Luening and Vladimir Ussachevsky - Concerted Piece for Tape Recorder and Orchestra {8:20}

2. Vladimir Ussachevsky - Of Wood and Brass {4:15}

3. Vladimir Ussachevsky - Wireless Fantasy {4:23}

Side 2

1. Mel Powell - Events for Tape Recorder {6:34}

2. Mel Powell - Improvisation {5:54}

3. Mel Powell - Second Electronic Setting {4:33}

4. Mel Powell - Two Prayer Settings {4:43}

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Electronic Pioneers

various artists compilation - Electronic Pioneers

Originally posted on July 22, 2006

From the back cover:

The music on this record was produced at the original Columbia University Tape Music Studio and its successor, the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center, and at the University of Illinois Electronic Music Studio. It includes some of the earliest electronic music released on commercial records, and is reissued by CRI after its deletion on the Son Nova and Heliodor labels. The tapes used in this reissue are all freshly mixed from the original materials.

Three fundamental types of electronic music are represented: (1) tape music composed from materials created from 'natural' (concrete) sounds such as gongs, voices, and instruments; (2) tape music composed from sounds which were generated by electronic instruments such as audio oscillators and manipulated by diverse processing devices; (3) tape music composed from mixtures of concrete and electronic sound sources.

In all of the compositions, the composers employed the customary techniques of manipulating basic source-sounds recorded on magnetic tape. For example, complex sounds were constructed by splicing together short pieces of tape cut from recordings of various basic sounds. the ear perceives a total impression of complexity without being able to distinguish each of the simple components. This mosaic-like technique, which demands considerable patience on the part of the composer, was, in the early days of tape music sometimes regarded as sufficient to the completion of a tape composition.

In these works, however, the composers found it compositionally desirable to further process basic sound sources by way of semi-automatic devices. For example, tape recorders and associated equipment were used to develop continuous patterns of sound, usually characterized by certain rhythmic rigidity, but nevertheless useful. Between, the extremes of handicraft and machine work, the composers used a variety of other specialized techniques, made possible by the flexibility of tape and the versatility of electronic equipment. For example, varying speed was used to produce different pitches and timbres; filtering was used to suppress some of the timbral characteristics of a given sound; reverberation to let the echo add color, liveliness, and a sense of spaciousness.

Tracklisting:

1. Mario Davidovsky - Electronic Study No. 2 {6:10}

2. Vladimir Ussachevsky - Linear Contrasts {3:35}

3. Bulent Arel - Electronic Music No. 1 {8:23}

4. Kenneth Gaburo - Lemon Drops {2:44}

5. Kenneth Gaburo - For Harry {4:39}

6. Vladimir Ussachevsky - Metamorphosis {5:04}

7. Bulent Arel - Music For a Sacred Service: Prelude and Postlude {6:32}

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Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center

various artists compilation - Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center

Originally posted on July 21, 2006

Write up by muse1453:
I bought this record at a library sale for only a dollar several years ago (to this day I still consider this the best dollar I ever spent). It opened my ears to a musical history that I was totally unaware of, and, of course, the music on this album is great as well. While the music is academic in nature (music made by academics, duh), the pieces are quite engaging and not just some dull exercise as they could have been IMHO. One could feel a sense of musical exploration taking place when listening to these tracks.

This record was released sometime in the early 60s when electronic music was still considered a new form of expression explored by mostly music professors. Electronic music was considered controversial in and out of formal music circles. Some people still seem to take an aversion to electronic music in the present. This record comes highly recommended especially for those who enjoyed Ohm: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music compilation.

The back cover has the basic information about the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center: "The Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center was established in 1959 with the assistance of a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. The Center provides three studios for composition and research in the electronic production of music. One studio houses the RCA Electronic Sound Synthesizer and related recording equipment, the others contain specialized equipment for sound generation and modification. Earlier grants from the Foundation made through Barnard College, allotment of space and other assistance by Columbia University have enabled Otto Luening and Vladimir Ussachevsky of Columbia to conduct joint experiments in the medium, with technical assistance from Mr. Peter Mauzey. The Center is jointly administered by Otto Luening and Vladimir Ussachevsky of Columbia University and Milton Babbitt and Roger Sessions of Princeton University."

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Bulent Arel - Stereo Electronic Music No. 1 {10:09}

2. Halim El-Dabh - Leiyla and the Poet {5:08}

3. Vladimir Ussachevsky - Creation - Prologue {7:45}

Side 2

4. Milton Babbitt - Composition For Synthesizer {10:19}

5. Mario Davidovsky - Electronic Study No. 1 {5:32}

6. Otto Luening - Gargoyles {9:06}

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