Comments for Electronic Classical Music - Classitronic

Comment on Switched on Bach – Where it all started by nick

nick — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:06:34 +0000

While no computers or sequencers were used it’s worth pointing out that much of it was recorded at half speed.

About critical views, it’s worth noting that pianist Glenn Gould appreciated it and even wrote some linear notes for the follow-up. His Bach recordings were certainly acclaimed and controversial too in different respects.

Comment on What Isao Tomita did before he was famous by nick

nick — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 08:02:04 +0000

Electric Samurai was the name it was released under in the UK. I have 1974 as the UK release date so it could have been in response to “Snowflakes” though I’ve not verified that.

The album came out in 1972 on Columbia Japan (Sony) with no featured artist’s name with the title of “Switched On Hit & Rock”

When I talked to him a decade ago he actually brought the album up. I was just vaguely familiar with it so I couldn’t ask many detailed questions about it. One of the things he made very clear is the Japanese record industry did not consider Switched on Bach proper Classical music so they did not know where to file it in terms of genre. I don’t believe it got a proper 1960s release in Japan, am I correct? So he was only introduced to it in 1969 at preparations for the Expo (Tomita composed for Toshiba’s multimedia multichannel spectacle). The genre issue and disinterest in synth music definitely played a role when he wanted to produce albums. He had only known about electronic sounds for what he considered as sound effects use. He held Switched On Bach as proof of the potential to create new orchestral sounds.

I wasn’t able to verify this but since this album was released by Columbia Japan (Sony) I can see that firstly there wasn’t a conflict with it being pop music and then the good timing that the Japanese release was in quad. My theory is Sony likely was looking to acquire material to release in quad given their drive to promote quad hardware.

When trying get a release of “Snowflakes”, this album didn’t help other than surely gaining experience using his synth. He ran into the genre problem in Japan and was rejected by Japanese labels. He proposed his Debussy album to RCA in New York and they were happy to release it, so through the 80s his contract was with U.S. RCA though he did stay with BMG Japan after that until around 2000.

Comment on Tomita Sounds & Sound Creature by nick

nick — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 07:11:53 +0000

Tomita had been doing lecture demos, even one in London as well as teaching during the time, though I don’t know exactly when he began teaching, so I’m fairly sure Sound Creature was capturing info he’d been presenting in person. It’s also worth noting that this was a couple years before his Daphnis et Chloe album, the small segment he created on Sound Creature became somewhat different in arrangement and more elaborate when the album was finished. FWIW he went into his gear a bit when promoting Bach Fantasy in the Japanese press, though I’ve never seen a precise gear list.

Comment on Igor Vitkevich joins Classitronic by David Ryle

David Ryle — Sat, 22 May 2010 02:36:50 +0000

Your are a master! The technical wizardry is matched in musical talent. Well done Igor.

Comment on Sibelius Intermezzo Karelia Suite Op.11 – Paul Shillito by Alisymon

Alisymon — Sat, 22 May 2010 00:23:16 +0000

I heard this a while back, but just listened again through my studio system. Great job Paul, very uplifting.

Comment on The Unusual Classical Synthesizer – Mike Hankinson 1972 by Dave

Dave — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:19:22 +0000

I too grew up with this album. I only wish I had saved the record. Thanks for posting some of the recordings. It was good to hear it again.

This album started me into classical music interests in my early teens, which was unusual for kids at that age. Switched On Bach was my next album, but I initially did not like the light sounds that he used. I guess I liked full base sounds which the Unusual Classical Synthesizer had.

Comment on Switched on Bach – Where it all started by fugue in g major

fugue in g major — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 13:55:35 +0000

[...] something lively in G major would be good, and Bach's Gigue Fugue definitely fits the bill. …Switched on Bach Where it all started | Electronic …Just in case your new to the Electronic classical music, this is a look at just where it all started [...]

Comment on Vision Fugitives Opus 22 Section 7 – Prokofiev – David Ryle by Mark Stevenson

Mark Stevenson — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:09:48 +0000

Awesome. I think a lot of P. is suited to electronic interpretation.

David Ryle — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:30:57 +0000

This has to be the coolest video performance of a modular I’ve ever seen to date. Of course the piece selection is wonderful, but the performance is amazing. I only have a few sequencers and know this must have involved an intense labor. To set this up takes remarkable insight and patience.
Thanks for the posting here Paul and Alastair.

Comment on Eric Satie’s Gnossienne No 1 for Modular Synthesizer – Alastair Symon by Erik Satie’s Gnossienne No 1 for Modular Synthesizer | Cheap Technology Buys

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:13:27 +0000

[...] eric satie's gnossienne no 1 for modular synthesizer â€“ alastair symon [...]