History of Electroacoustic Music MUHL 342 001
Room C204
Course Content
- 1895-1930's: Early XX C. pioneers, Tesla, Berliner, Theremin, Trawtein, Martenot. Art movements cubism, dada, expressionism, futurism. Poèsie concréte; Schwitters, H.Chopin. Microphones, early disc recordings, tape recorder. McLaren and the NFB.
-1948, Paris: Musique concréte, Pierre Henri and Pierre Schaffer.
- 1950: Köln, electronic music: Stockhausen, Kagel, Cage.
-1952, Milan: Berio, Maderna.
- 1951: New York: Ussachevsy, Luening, Babbitt, Hiller. Classical studios – VC controlled synthesizers – additive, subtractive synthesis-FM synthesis
- 1980s: personal computers, samplers and MIDI. Notation and performance practices. Electronic music in Sweden: Fylkyngen Studios.
- Canadian electronic studios in the 60's and Hugh Le Caine: University of Toronto: McGill University, Montreal; Université de Montreal; Univ.Concordia; Conservatoire.
- Computers and music, the MIDI world, interactivity, Xenakis [CCMIX], Varèse [Brussels Pavillion], Paul Lansky, Dodge, Pennycook, Truax.Theatre musical, Kagel, lanza.
- Electronic Music studios in Latin America: Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Cuba.
Sources:
- Latin American Electroacoustic Music Collection, Langlois Foundation
http://www.fondation-langlois.org/html/e/page.php?NumPage=556
- Electroacoustic Music in Canada, David Keane, in eContact, from CEC
http://cec.concordia.ca/econtact/index.htm
- EMF Institute
http://www.emf.org
- Xenakis: Micenae-Alpha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yztoaNakKok
Book of interest: Electronic and Experimental Music [Thom Holmes]
Listening List
[for the listening test, refer to first 5' of each composition]
Schaffer P. – Symph. pour un homme seul: Strette [Vol.2-N.12] CD 3399
M. Coulombe St.Marcoux: Arksalalartôq – [CD Transmutations] CD 6791
Le Caine – Dripsody [CD Tornado, McG] CD 16925
Lansky – Not so Heavy Metal [fr. CD Smalltalk] CD 4450
lanza - diastemas, marimba and tape [CD Night Chill] CD 26276
Dhomont – Objets retrouvés [CDCycle du son] CD 22509
Roy, Stephane - Ondes/Arborescences [fr. CD Kaleidos] CD 8448
Westerkamp – Breathing Room [CD: Electro Clips] CD 4031
Normandeau – Tropes [Fr. CD Tangram] CD 14543
Deschenes M. - Lux Aeterna [from CD Halogenes] CD 2453
Bartley – Rising tides of generations lost [CDClaire-voie] CD 4039
Assignments and Marking
In accord with McGill University’s Charter of Students’ Rights, students in this course have the right to submit in English or in French any written work that is to be graded.
* assignment [I]: 6 to 8 pages report on " electroacoustic music in France" . Look for the milestones that led to the creation of electronic music laboratories in France, at radios, universities or private studios. Discuss some relevant works produced in at least two different electronic music centers. [Mid-term]
* assignment [II] : 10 to 12 page essay on two electroacoustic music composers from Latin America who chose to work outside their own countries. Analize reasons and consequences [end of term] [with bibliography, cited works, etc, for both assignments]
* listening test: based on the list of works given above. [date TBA]
Evaluation
* mid term assign.: 30% * final assign: 40% * listening test: 30%