How Wendy Carlos Changed Music • Hacker News Board

Re: How Wendy Carlos Changed Music

#21

Post by jnbiche » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 4:12 AM UTC

Oh man, listening to Switched on Bach now. First music I loved as a kid; it still evokes an emotional response. Life has been hard recently, living through a serious illness with lots of pain, feels good to kick back and listen to this.

BTW, archive.org has the best quality recordings I've found of Switched on Bach. It's not got a very full sound, but there are less pops and crackles than other sources online such as soundcloud. I wish Wendy Carlos would reissue this as a re-mastered CD

Re: How Wendy Carlos Changed Music

#22

Post by jancsika » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 4:23 AM UTC

1_2__4 wrote: post #14

jancsika wrote: post #12

The Tron score did a wonderful job blending early synth sounds with an orchestral backdrop. It also has a odd and memorable theme that moves around using augmented triads yet isn't octatonic nor based on a whole-tone scale. There's also a nice moment at the beginning of the credits-- where the theme previously wandered through harmonies quite rapidly, here it gets anchored to a single key with a fairly lush orchestra…

You made me really happy with this comment. Tron was a big movie for me in my youth and a big reason why I was drawn to computers and ultimately programming. I also came to love synth and electronic music (Art of Noise etc.) around the same time and have always thought the Tron soundtrack to be amazing, especially the credits track. But I know nothing about music theory, I'm just glad it's good music. Thanks. I heard…

That's interesting about the London Phil part of the score. It's amazing how many compelling pieces of music have fortuitous back stories like that.

Re: How Wendy Carlos Changed Music

#23

Post by dahart » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 4:54 AM UTC

bananaboy wrote: post #13

rectang wrote: post #3

The secret ingredient in Switched on Bach is that it is an outrageously good musical performance. Lots of other synth albums are technology demos, collections of cool sounds. Switched On Bach stands out because Carlos adapted Bach for the medium of the Moog synth, clearly understanding the compositions' underlying gestures, and ensured that those gestures all come through. In some cases, they come through more clearl…

Yes! Exactly! The key thing there is that Carlos is a musician as well. I think Tomita is another great example of a musician who took material and adapted it for a new medium in really interesting, innovative ways.

Oh my god this is bringing back memories. When I was a kid, I'd put Best of Tomita and Switched on Bach on the record player back to back and listen for hours. I must have been a freaky kid, but it was synth heaven.

Re: How Wendy Carlos Changed Music

#24

Post by flavio81 » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 5:00 AM UTC

11thEarlOfMar wrote: post #19

lostgame wrote: post #5

Also a pioneer for the trans community. What a fantastic person.

I just noticed that the album cover refers to her production company as 'Trans-Electronic Music Productions, Inc.' I guess 'trans' was a term in the 60s, but not likely that many listeners realized the significance.

the logo for T.E.M.P was a transistor, so i think that's the "trans" Walter and Rachel had in mind back then.

Re: How Wendy Carlos Changed Music

#25

Post by edraferi » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 5:21 AM UTC

colomon wrote: post #16

Does anyone have an idea why her albums aren't currently available?

Looks like Switched on Bach is available on Spotify, but not under Carlos’ name: https://open.spotify.com/album/3eybj65D63xdjPEho8N7s4

Re: How Wendy Carlos Changed Music

#26

Post by multi_tude » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 6:25 AM UTC

bananaboy wrote: post #13

rectang wrote: post #3

The secret ingredient in Switched on Bach is that it is an outrageously good musical performance. Lots of other synth albums are technology demos, collections of cool sounds. Switched On Bach stands out because Carlos adapted Bach for the medium of the Moog synth, clearly understanding the compositions' underlying gestures, and ensured that those gestures all come through. In some cases, they come through more clearl…

Yes! Exactly! The key thing there is that Carlos is a musician as well. I think Tomita is another great example of a musician who took material and adapted it for a new medium in really interesting, innovative ways.

Tomita's Pictures at an Exhibition is arguably a more distinguished execution of synthesized orchestration than Switched on Bach.

Re: How Wendy Carlos Changed Music

#27

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 6:40 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: How Wendy Carlos Changed Music

#28

Post by aphextron » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 6:49 AM UTC

Y_Y wrote: post #7

rectang wrote: post #3

The secret ingredient in Switched on Bach is that it is an outrageously good musical performance. Lots of other synth albums are technology demos, collections of cool sounds. Switched On Bach stands out because Carlos adapted Bach for the medium of the Moog synth, clearly understanding the compositions' underlying gestures, and ensured that those gestures all come through. In some cases, they come through more clearl…

In case anyone feels like listening to this masterpiece: https://soundcloud.com/mikekraze/bach-switched-on-full-album

Just incredible. Thanks.

Re: How Wendy Carlos Changed Music

#29

Post by pseingatl » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 7:06 AM UTC

racl101 wrote: post #2

I still enjoy listening to my Clockwork Orange soundtrack that I got for my 16th birthday. I used to listen to it all the time when doing math homework. Good music for concentration. My fave track being 'Theme from A Clockwork Orange (Beethoviana)'.

A complete Beethoven's 9th is needed. Pity she didn't complete it.

Re: How Wendy Carlos Changed Music

#30

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Jan 07, 2018, 7:18 AM UTC

bananaboy wrote: post #13

rectang wrote: post #3

The secret ingredient in Switched on Bach is that it is an outrageously good musical performance. Lots of other synth albums are technology demos, collections of cool sounds. Switched On Bach stands out because Carlos adapted Bach for the medium of the Moog synth, clearly understanding the compositions' underlying gestures, and ensured that those gestures all come through. In some cases, they come through more clearl…

Yes! Exactly! The key thing there is that Carlos is a musician as well. I think Tomita is another great example of a musician who took material and adapted it for a new medium in really interesting, innovative ways.

[deleted]