With a truly global perspective, this vivid and readable narrative provides a comprehensive overview of the history of electronic music. The author draws upon his combined experience as composer, performer, researcher, entrepreneur, and teacher to provide insight into every aspect of electronic music, including the music itself, the instruments, and the industry. Based on more than 150 interviews with leaders in the field, this book allows students to understand how and why the musicians, engineers and businessmen did what they did to develop the modern synthesizer to its current state.* Provides a comprehensive overview of electronic music, from the Telharmonium at the turn of the century to the MIDI synthesizer of the 1990s. * Introduces a wealth of new historical material not previously revealed. * Conveys the personal perspectives, motivations and stories of leaders in the field. * Written in a lively, engaging style that does not require technical expertise from a reader.
* Includes provocative, easily understandable discussions on the nature and context of the electronic musical instrument in todays world, including issues of sound synthesis and new approaches to composition and performance. * Tells the story behind the music and the instruments, showing not just what happened during one of the most exciting periods in the history of music, but how and why it happened and what it felt like to be there.