tags: mus-407 mus-409 electroacoustic
Electroacoustic Music
Electroacoustic music is music that depends on electronic technology for its creation/[composition] and performance, referring to a practice that emerged during the early/mid-twentieth century and continues to develop today.
Simplified definition by Hanna Bosma:
Music in which the use of electronic equipment is essential, and which is not [pop music]; mostly without commercial success, and often related to universities, conservatories, art institutions or non-commercial radio stations
Other terms: [computer music], acousmatic music, [musique concrete], [tape] music, radiophonic art, sound art, soundscapes, etc.
Differentiation between electronic and electroacoustic
Difference between electronic and electroacoustic music is debatable
- terms are sometimes used interchangeably
- electroacoustic music tends to be used as a more all-encompassing term
- often implies a connection with academia and research.
Electronic music often refers to popular [synthesizer] music, or popular electronic dance music (EDM) and ambient music. (Hanna Bosma)
Early Instruments
Many early instruments formed the basis for electroacoustic music down the line.
These inventions and instruments were experiments and "accidents":
- [Musical Telegraph] (1847) - Elisha Gray
- [Singing Arc] (1899) - William Duddell, British physicist
These instruments were invented specifically for electronic music:
- [Telharmonium] (1897-1914)
- [ Vacuum Tube]
- [Theremin] (1922)
- [Ondes Martenot] (1928)
- [Trautonium]
- [Hammond Organ] (1935)
- [RCA Mark II Synthesizer] (1957)
- [Harmonic Tone Generator] (1964)
Useful links
- Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS): https://seamusonline.org/
- Bandcamp tag for electroacoustic music: https://bandcamp.com/tag/electroacoustic
- Ten musicians updating Electroacoustic music for the 21st century (Bandcamp)