More Music from the Future - Master thereminist Eric Ross and ERA Avant-Garde Ensemble - featuring dancer Atsuko Yuma with Trevor Pinch, Moog synthesizer; Jason Smeltzer, theremins; John Snyder, theremin, didjeridu; Eric J.Roth, guitar; Joe Perkin, bass
In 1954 as a young adult, Robert Moog offered a DIY theremin kit - a wonderful irony of a hands-on project to build an instrument that is played with hands-off.
Sixty years later, a wintry weather mix did not deter folks from state-of-the-art tonalities performed with a mix of theremins, Moog synthesizers, Electronic WInd Instrument, waterphone, and more familiar saxophone, lute, guitar, and bass.
Local musician uses instruments of the past
The concert featured three thereminists, two Moog synthesizers, one lute, and more.
- Eric Ross, theremin, & his Avant Ensemble
- Trevor Pinch, Moog synthesizers
- Peter Rothbart, EWI
- John Snyder, theremin
- Jason Smeltzer, theremin
- Eric J. Roth, lute & guitars
- Joseph Perkins, bass
Eric Ross presented his most recent theremin composition - Legends of Orpheus (Op. 62). Trevor Pinch, Cornell Professor of Science and Technology Studies by day, electronic musician by night, is the author of Analog Days: The invention and impact of the Moog Synthesizer (2004).
The TechWorks! Workshop is handicapped accessible (north Event Entrance), with plenty of parking by the railroad trestles. After the concert, vintage simulators and IBM computers will be in action until 5 PM.
Related links:
- BBC - Leon Theremin retrospective
- The New Sound Of Music 1979 (Part 1) BBC - Player pianos to the electronic age
- Robert Moog - 1980 BBC interview/demonstration of how a synthesizer works
- BBC Brief History of the Mini Moog Synthesizer - 8 minutes on the 1970s era
- McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
- History of Link Automatic Pianos