One of the very first electronic musical instruments was the Telharmonium, invented in 1898 through 1901 by Thaddeus Cahill. "Tel" is for telephone lines, that carried the electronic signals for this enormous instrument. The first version weighed 7 tons, and later models were close to 200 tons! The idea was to use large generators to produce music electronically, and transmit it to local restaurants, hotels, and even private homes, by subscription. This was a precursor to the electric organ, and had the ability to create sounds similar to common orchestral instruments: flute, bassoon, clarinet, and cello. However, it was expensive to run (and to subscribe to), and although it experienced success in the early 1900's in New York City, soon other inventions -- electric organs and radio -- would overtake it's popularity.
One of these was the Ondes Martenot, created in France by Maurice Martenot, and first presented in 1928. This instrument could make an ethereal sliding sound, as well as sounds for individual notes. It was played in orchestras, and is still in use today--in classical music as well as by pop musicians such as Radiohead. Here is a video that demonstrates the Ondes Martenot, played by Thomas Bloch:
One of these was the Ondes Martenot, created in France by Maurice Martenot, and first presented in 1928. This instrument could make an ethereal sliding sound, as well as sounds for individual notes. It was played in orchestras, and is still in use today--in classical music as well as by pop musicians such as Radiohead. Here is a video that demonstrates the Ondes Martenot, played by Thomas Bloch:
In 1964, Robert Moog (Moog rhymes with "vogue") along with collaborator Herbert Deutch invented modules for synthesizing music electronically -- a performer could design and create his own sounds by connecting modules with electric wires and by turning knobs. This invention is known as the "Moog Synthesizer." When classical music by Bach was played using this system, by music engineer Wendy Carlos (who also helped tweak and improve the system), her record album Switched-On Bach took the music world by storm, reaching the top 10 of the Billboard 200 pop charts, and staying in the top 40 for 17 weeks during 1969. It received three grammy awards in 1969-- for Best Classical Album, Best Classical Performance (for an instrumental soloist), and Best Engineered Classical Recording.
Here is "Allegro," from Brandenburg Concerto number three, by J.S. Bach-- played with the Moog Synthesizer (and accompanied by wonderful coloful graphics!); this video was created and put on YouTube by "Puhzz;" the audio is not the original Switched-On Bach recording by Wendy, but one he made in 2013 as a tribute to her earlier work.
Here is "Allegro," from Brandenburg Concerto number three, by J.S. Bach-- played with the Moog Synthesizer (and accompanied by wonderful coloful graphics!); this video was created and put on YouTube by "Puhzz;" the audio is not the original Switched-On Bach recording by Wendy, but one he made in 2013 as a tribute to her earlier work.
The following year (1970), the "Mini Moog" was available for sale. This was one compact instrument, not a series of modules patched together-- much easier for musicians to work with, and this new synthesizer also added some aspects to the music making, such as "variable glide" for gliding one note into another.
Soon, other companies became major competitors in producing sythesizers, but Robert Moog Music was where this type of electronic instrument began.
Soon, other companies became major competitors in producing sythesizers, but Robert Moog Music was where this type of electronic instrument began.
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