Lejaren Hiller: Computer Music Retrospective (1957-1985)

Vintage Computer Music Week at the Electronic Music Time Machine. Today we're exhuming an out of print/deleted Wergo CD with historically important computer music by American composer Lejaren Hiller. Read his biography here. The music contained here is, well historically important, but probably not something you'd want to play on your wedding day. It's a little boring (but that's just my opinion). Anyway, check out one of the earliest computer music pieces ever conceived (Illiac Suite from 1957 - but don't expect any proto Sci-Fi stuff one Pietro Grossi's "Computer Music" for IBM; this is "just" a modified string quartet).

Sharebee

John Chowning: Interview, KFCJ, 2006

In conjunction with my previous post (Nonesuch's Computer Music), here's an interview with composer John Chowning, a leading pioneer of digital music. The interview was recorded in 2006 at KFCJ Radio.

From Wikipedia:
Born in Salem, New Jersey, John M. Chowning is known for having discovered the FM synthesis algorithm in 1967. In FM synthesis, also known as frequency modulation, both the carrier frequency and the modulation frequency are within the audio band. In essence, the amplitude and frequency of one waveform modulates the frequency of another waveform producing a resultant waveform that can be periodic or non-periodic depending upon the ratio of the two frequencies.

Chowning's breakthrough allowed for simple yet rich sounding timbres, which synthesized 'metal striking' or 'bell like' sounds, and which seemed incredibly similar to real percussion. (Chowning was also a skilled drummer.) He spent six years turning his breakthrough into a system of musical importance and eventually was able to simulate a large number of musical sounds, including the singing voice. In 1973 Stanford University licensed the discovery to Yamaha in Japan, with whom Chowning worked in developing a family of synthesizers and electronic organs. This patent was Stanford's most lucrative patent at one time, eclipsing many in electronics, computer science, and biotechnology.

The first product to incorporate the FM algorithm was Yamaha's GS1, a digital synthesizer that first shipped in 1981. Some thought it too expensive at the time, Chowning included. Soon after, in 1983, Yamaha made their first commercially successful digital FM synthesizer, the DX7.

Sharebee

Various Artists: Computer Music [Nonesuch]

Most people think that the age of "computer" music has begun with the introduction of the Synclavier (1975), Crumar's GDS (1979), the Fairlight CMI (1978-80), Yamaha's GS 1 (1981) or even it's DX 7 (1983). All wrong. Although I'm a complete hillbilly in this matter, I can trace the age of digital music to the late Fifties (yes, the decade when Sputnik was launched). Some of the early computer pieces I know:

• Newman Gutman: The Silver Scale (1957) - reportedly the first computer piece ever
• John Pierce: Stochata (1959)
• Max Mathews: Several computer pieces since the early Sixties (e.g. "Numerology")
• Pietro Grossi: Computer Music (ca. 1967)
• Jean-Claude Rissett: Several works beginning with "Mutations" (1969)
• Vladimir Ussachevsky: Two Sketches for a Computer Piece (1971)
• Iannis Xenakis: works for UPIC since 1971 (like La Legend d'Eer, Persepolis, Polytope de Cluny)
• John Chowning: A few pieces 1970+
  
• Thorkell Sigurbjörnsson: La Jolla Good Friday (1975)
• Herbert Brün: Sawdust (1976-)

etc.

Here's some more. Nonesuch's out-of-print vinyl-only release Computer Music. It feature the following tracks/artists:

• J.K. Randall: Quartets in Paris / Quartersines / Mudgett: Monologues By A Mass Murderer
• Barry Vercoe: Synthesism
• Charles Dodge: Changes

Tracks realised in the Columbia/Princeton Computer Centres.

Sharebee