Skirts in the Studio: Ten Women Pioneers of Electronic Music Clara Rockmore 1911-1998 Saint-Saens “Ly Cygne” from Carnival of the Animals Clara Rockmore 1911-1998 • Theremin Virtuoso • Born Clara Reisenberg in Lithuania, entered the Conservatory at St. Petersburg at 5 to study violin • Had to stop playing violin in her late teens due to physical issues • Moved to New York in 1927 and met Leon Theramin shortly aer • Worked with Theremin for several years to perfect his instrument (faster volume antenna, wider range, etc.) • Performed her first solo recital on the Theramin in 1934 Johanna Beyer 1880-1944 Music of the Spheres, 1938, 1st performance 1977, arranged by Allen Strange Johanna Beyer 1880-1944 • 1st ComposiZon featuring electronic instruments by a woman • Born in Leipzig, moved to US in 1923 at the age of 35 • Composer and Pianist associated with Ultra-Modernists, Henry Cowell, Ruth Crawford, Charles Seeger, and later John Cage. • Largely ignored as a composer, but had a few important performances of her acousZc music. • Her music was experimental, anZcipang both minimalism and rhythmic techniques used by later composers • Supported herself teaching piano, and worked as Cowell’s secretary for some me. • Suffered from Lou Gherig’s disease in late years. Daphne Oram 1925-2003 Pompie Ballet, date ? between. 1959-1977 Daphne Oram 1925-2003 • Creator of the Oramics Machine, a sound generator using film as a means to “draw sounds” • Studied music and electronics growing up, turned down a spot at the Royal College of Music to be a Junior Sound Engineer for BBC in 1942. • 1957 created the BBC’s first electronic score for the play Amphitryon 28 • Pioneered the BBC Radiophonic Workshop in 1958 with Bruce Briscoe and served as the first Studio Manager • LeQ BBC less than one year aer founding the workshop • Moved to fairseat in 1959, where she installed Oramics Studios for Electronic Composi=on in a converted hops mill The Oramics Machine Bebe Barron 1925-2008 Bebe Barron 1925-2008 • With husband Louis Barron, composed 1st Tape Piece and the 1st electronic score to a commercial film • Born “Charloge May Wind,” Studied Music at the University of Minnesota • Married Louis in 1947, when they received their first tape recorder as a wedding gi • Composed Heavenly Menagerie in 1950 • Worked with John Cage on William’s Mix 1952-53 • Turned to commercial work to earn money, but were denied membership in the Musician’s Union • Composed her final piece “Mixed Emo=ons” in 2004 “Love at the Watering Hole” from The forbidden Planet, 1956 Wendy Carlos b. 1939 Switched on Bach, 1968 Wendy Carlos b. 1939 • Born “Walter Carlos” in Pawtucket, RI • Background in piano from early age • Studied at Brown University and Columbia University where she was a student of Vladimir Ussachevsky in the 60s • Met Robert Moog in mid-sixZes, 1st Moog Synthesizer released in 1966, convinced him to add touch sensiZvity to keyboard • Released Switched on Bach in 1968 which sold over 500,000 copies on LP and won three grammy awards Annea Lockwood b. 1939 World Rhythms, 1975 Annea Lockwood b. 1939 • Born in New Zealand • Extensive career in Europe (based in London) before moving to US in 1973 • Works with recorded media, mixed media, and acousZc instruments • Records sounds from the natural world • Also known for Fluxus inspired pieces (i.e. burning pianos) • Her work in the 70s with natural sound predated the Soundscape movement (i.e. Hildegarde Westercamp) • Also a scholar of psychoacousZcs. Interested in trance music from world cultures and the use of sound in healing. Pauline Oliveros b. 1932 Bye, Bye Buerfly, 1965 Pauline Oliveros b. 1932 • Composer, Accordionist, Deep Listening Guru • Born in Houston, TX, studied music at San francisco State with Robert Ericson • In 1960, with composer Ramon Sender, Oliveros had started Sonics, a center for concrète and electronic music at the San francisco Conservatory of Music, which became the San francisco Tape Music Center. • In 1961 she wrote her first tape piece, Time Perspecves which was realized in her home. • 1966 she became the director of the San francisco Tape Music Center, which moved to Mills College (now called the Center for Contemporary Music) • Went on to teach at UC San Diego and Rensselaer Polytechnic InsZtute (RPI) in Albany Ruth Anderson b. 1928 Points, 1973-74 Ruth Anderson b. 1928 • Composer and flauZst inspired by Zen Buddhism • Studied at University of Washington (flute and composiZon), B.A. and M.A. • Traveled abroad in 50s, where she studied with Milhaud and Nadia Boulanger • 1962-63 1st woman admiged to Princeton University’s ComposiZon Program for Post-Graduate work • Studied with Vladimir Ussachevsky at the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center • Created the Electronic Music Studio and served as the Director at Hunter College in NY in 1970, where she taught unZl reZring Alice Shields b. 1943 The Transforma=on of Ani, 1970 Alice Shields b. 1943 • Composer, Opera Singer, Scholar and Performer of Indian Raga • Received D.M.A from Columbia University (early 70s) where she studied with Vladimir Ussachevsky • Taught Psychology of Music at New York University • Served as Associate Director of the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center and Director of Development of the Columbia Computer Music Center • Known for her mulZ-cultural, mulZ-language operas and electronic music Count the Skirts at the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center (1970) Vladimir Ussachevsky (seated), Milton BabbiG, Bülent Arel, Pril Smiley, Mario Davidovsky, Alice Shields, OGo Luening. Laurie Spiegel b. 1945 Appalachian Grove #1, 1974 Laurie Spiegel b. 1945 • Composer and SoQware Creator • Studied guitar, lute, and composiZon at Julliard • Encountered the Buchla Synthesizer in 1967 when visiZng Morton Subotnick • Worked with Max Mahews at Bell Labs in the early 70s • One of the first composers to use Groove (Generated Realtime Operations on Voltage-Controlled Equipment), 1st Digitally Controlled Real-time system" •! Works in Conjunction with Dance, and interest in meditation music" •! Created Music Mouse in the mid-80s, an Interactive Real-time Composition System for Apple and Atari computer" " .