Electronic Music
This part of the course is one which I know I am going to find interesting because I do enjoy modern electronic music and it is going to be interesting to see how this developed. In looking to find out a little more about the instruments used and the people who were at the forefront of electronic music I discovered two rather interesting sections in the Encyclopaedia Britannica which are devoted to Electronic Music and Electronic Instruments. The piece on the instruments is very interesting indeed especially on the workings of the instruments and I have found this really informative. The piece on the music gives mention to some of the names which are to be looked at in this section and I am looking forward to investigating these further. I have already encountered some of Stockhausen’s work but I am hoping that as I am further along in the course I will appreciate his innovativeness much more. I have recently read a book on Kraftwerk and his name appeared as an influence so I am looking to hear those influences if I can.
Some of the earliest works using electronic sounds were created by Messiaen and Varese who I have encountered briefly before. Other innovators in electronic music are :-
The Groupe de Musique Concrete was formed by Schaeffer and Henry and it became a leading research centre for electronic music and attracted Varese and of course Stockhausen.
From the 1950s composers who started to combine sounds with live instrumental music included., The aforementioned Varese and Bruno Maderna. However the most influential of the composers is Karl Heinz Stockhausen.
Amanda Music BA (Hons) 