NICOLE V. GAGNÉ

This show, first broadcast on April 7, 2017, examines the beginnings of electro-acoustic music, with the first electronic instruments built in the 20th century and their combinations with acoustic instruments. The survey begins in the 1930s, with works by Paul Hindemith, employing a trautonium; Johanna M. Beyer, whose score called for simply “three electrical instruments”; John Cage, working with records and variable-speed turntables; and Edgard Varèse, utilizing either theremins or ondes martenots. The 1940s are represented by music from Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu, featuring a theremin, and France’s Olivier Messiaen, using the ondes martenot. The works played are:

PAUL HINDEMITH

Konzertstück for trautonium and strings (1931)

JOHANNA M. BEYER

Music of the Spheres (1938)

JOHN CAGE

Imaginary Landscape No. 1 (1939)

EDGARD VARÈSE

Ecuatorial (1934)

BOHUSLAV MARTINU

Fantasia (1944)

OLIVIER MESSIAEN

Trois petites liturgies de la Présence Divine (1944)

Link to:

Music: SFCR Radio Shows 2012–2018

For more on these composers, see:

Music Book: Historical Dictionary of Modern and Contemporary Classical Music, Second Edition

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For more on Johanna M. Beyer, see:

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For more on Johanna M. Beyer and John Cage, see:

Music: SFCR Radio Show #19, The Percussion Ensemble

For more on John Cage, see:

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For more on John Cage and Edgard Varèse, see:

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For more on Paul Hindemith, see:

Music: SFCR Radio Show #20, Neo-Classicism, part 1

For more on Edgard Varèse, see:

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Music: SFCR Radio Show #10, Percussion in Early 20th-Century Music

Music: SFCR Radio Show #33, Electro-Acoustic Music, part 2: Musicians and Tape