RCA Electronic Synthesizer Sounds 1955 demonstration lp

$

41

The Sounds and Music of the RCA Electronic Music Synthesizer


RCA Victor LM-1922 Experimental USA 1955 LP Vinyl: vg+ (few light marks)
Cover: vg+ (stamp and small writing on back; bottom seam has a small split at center repaired with clear tape) This rare and amazing artifact is the first lp ever to feature a synthesizer; it is also generally regarded as the first record of electronic music (though there were some early musique concrete recordings which were released around the same time). It's a demonstration of the then-unbelievable capabilities of the RCA Synth, with explanations of the technology and science behind the punchcard-fed, room-sized machine (spoken in a stereotypical 1950s nerdy announcer voice, interspersed with synthesized example sounds), as well as actual music produced by the synth. There are classical works by Bach and Brahms, folk songs ("in the style of a Hillbilly Band"), and pop and jazz (including Irving Berlin's Blue Skies "in the style of a dance band"). The RCA Synth would a few years later be installed at the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center, where luminaries Vladimir Ussachevsky, Milton Babbitt, Otto Luening, and Charles Wuorinen all composed seminal experimental works using it. The lp was produced by Dr. Harry F. Olson, director of the RCA Acoustical Laboratory. It includes extensive illustrated notes, with essays and diagrams on subjects like "The Physical Properties of Musical Tones, " "Synthesis and the Musician," etc. "Introducing the RCA Electronic Music Synthesizer - a system capable of creating any sound which has ever been produced, and any sound which can be imagined by the human mind..."

This lp should be heard by anyone interested in electronic music and instruments like the Theremin, Oskar Sala and his trautonium, Robert Moog, Donald Buchla/Morton Subotnick, Clara Rockmore, ondes Martenot, Ondioline, Arp, Raymond Scott, Bruce Haack, Jean-Michelle Jarre, Paul Beaver, Bernie Krause, Pierre Henry, Max Mathews, Jean-Claude Risset, Bernard Parmegiani, Herbert Eimert, Robert Beyer, Gottfried Michael Koenig, Jean-Jacques Perrey, Gershon Kingsley, Tom Dissevelt, John R. Pierce, Newman Guttman, James Tenney, Mu-Ziq, Aphex Twin, Autechre, etc... Check out my other auctions this week for more avant garde/experimental, early electronic/electroacoustic, free jazz/improv, 20th century classical, microtonal, audiophile, prog/psych, modern poetry, and artist records. Shipping - US shipping is 4.20 for 1-2 single records by Media Mail, then 0.50 for each additional (Priority Mail, other expedited shipping options, and insurance are all available on request). International shipping for 1 12" lp to Western Europe/UK/Scandinavia is 8.00 surface or 13.00 air; to Japan/Taiwan/Australia is 8.00 surface or 14.50 air; to Canada by air is 7.00; other international destinations vary. 7" and 10" records will cost less; heavy box sets will cost more. Combine multiple items to save on shipping. Note: I can now offer international buyers the super-cheap M-Bag bulk mail rate for orders of 8 or more lps; to most destinations this starts at 21.50 for surface mail or 33.50 for air for up to 17 lps, a huge per-record savings over standard rates for smaller parcels! Feel free to email with any shipping questions. Payment - I prefer Paypal (which allows for fastest possible shipment) and also accept money order (from US financial institutions only, including BidPay, US Postal, certified US bank check, etc., international bidders please take note!). If you are paying by Paypal and have won multiple items, please use a single Paypal payment. I will send an invoice email to all winners shortly after my auctions close, and another email after payment has been received to confirm item shipment. Packing - I pack professionally and with the utmost care drawn from years of experience trading vinyl internationally. I use new record mailers from Cameron Packaging (which I have determined are the best and most protective) reinforced with cardboard inserts and bubble wrap padding. All records are shipped with poly plastic sleeves. All packages are completely sealed with strong packing tape covering all openings. If you'd like your package done any differently, just let me know. Feel free to email me if you have any questions (need more info, want more pictures, etc.); you can use the 'ask seller a question' link above. My condition rating scale is -G+/-VG+/-EX+/-NM/M (only sealed records are M). Satisfaction guaranteed; if you have any problems with your order please contact me directly. Check out Ebay[track], my free realtime ebay auction tracker (currently in beta), which can refresh multiple auction statuses every second, alert you when bids are placed and when auctions end, let you place bids, and more. It's a useful tool for bidders, snipers, sellers, watchers... This item description is (c)opyright 2007 keymap records; please contact keymap records for permission before reproducing any text.