Library: MUS 1120: Introduction to Electronic Music: Websites

Electronic Music: An Introduction

History of Electronic/Electroacoustic Music (1937-2001)
A "history" of electronic music through music clips; excludes popular music, focusing exclusively on the avant-garde/art music tradition.

Web Radio

Tune in to these web radio broadcasts to hear curated collections of soundart, soundscapes, tape manipulations, and more.

Wave Farm
From their site: "Wave Farm is a non-profit arts organization driven by experimentation with broadcast media and the airwaves. Our programs—Transmission Arts, WGXC-FM, and Media Arts Grants—provide access to transmission technologies and support artists and organizations that engage with media as an art form."
Resonance104.4fm
From their site: "Founded in 2002, Resonance is a ground-breaking 24/7 broadcast platform which exists to encourage creativity through radio. Its resources are open to a wide range of artists, art forms and diverse communities. Resonance's expert, arts-focused programmes challenge, inspire and transform people's creative and listening experiences."
Soundart Radio
From their site: "Soundart Radio is an independent, non-commercial, licensed community radio station. We reach audiences locally, nationally and internationally."
WFMU
From their site: "WFMU’s programming ranges from flat-out uncategorizable strangeness to rock and roll, experimental music, 78 RPM Records, jazz, psychedelia, hip-hop, electronica, hand-cranked wax cylinders, punk rock, gospel, exotica, R&B, radio improvisation, cooking instructions, classic radio airchecks, found sound, dopey call-in shows, interviews with obscure radio personalities and notable science-world luminaries, spoken word collages, Andrew Lloyd Webber soundtracks in languages other than English as well as Country and western music."

Organizations

SEAMUS
Founded in 1984, The Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS) is a non-profit national organization of composers, performers, and teachers of electro-acoustic music representing every part of the country and virtually every musical style. Electro-Acoustic music is a term used to describe those musics which are dependent on electronic technology for their creation and/or performance.
World Forum for Acoustic Ecology
The World Forum for Acoustic Ecology, founded in 1993, is an international association of affiliated organizations and individuals who share a common concern for the state of the world’s soundscapes. Our members represent a multi-disciplinary spectrum of individuals engaged in the study of the social, cultural, and ecological aspects of the sonic environment.

Musical Automata

For centuries, mechanical music (re)production has been a pastime for the curious, the inventive, and, initially, the fabulously wealthy. Although not executed in the spirit of sonic experimentation, these innovative devices were, arguably, our first use of technology to generate meaningful sound.

The Origins of Mechanical Music
Useful overview of the history of musical automata, player pianos, and related devices, stretching back to the pre-Christian era.
Automaton: The Dulcimer Player
Video of an 18th century automaton in action. The figure is a portrait of Marie Antoinette, to whom the automaton was originally presented.
Mechanical Birdsong Device, 1890
Video of a small musical automaton, showing working parts in action.
The Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata
"Virtually every category of mechanical musical instruments and automata from the late 16th century through the early 20th century is represented in the Murtogh D. Guinness collection, which was awarded to the Morris Museum in 2003."