Re: [microsound][ot] pop tart music

[under the radar <analog_life@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I really think people are overlooking the influence of synthetic breakfast 
food on microsound, and abstract electronic music in general. I would arguee 
that the divergence of abstract electronic music and pop music correlates to 
the intoduction of Tang Orange drink into American culture.

Analyze the breakfast drink market after Apollo 11, expectations or tastes 
are allowed to change, be very analytical (you may need to know that the 
Apollo astronauts drank Tang orange drink in space). After the splashdown 
May 26, 1969 there began a HUGE influx of synths into the marketplace that 
fundamentally changed the way electronic music was created: THe VCS3 (aka 
The Putney), VCS4, DK1 (aka The Cricklewood), Synthi KB1, Synthi 100, 
Sequencer 32, Sequencer 164, Sequencer 128, Synthi Sequencer 256, Pitch to 
Voltage Converter,Eight Octave Filter Bank were all created after the 10 
year span post Tang inception.

And let's not forget about pop tarts.

"After World War II, Post had a research team working to come up with new 
non-cereal products. Their first successful product was Tang, the powdered 
orange juice substitute that became a big success when the astronauts drank 
it in space. Using the same technology, they came up with a fruit-filled 
pastry that could be stored for months without refrigeration. On February 
16, 1964, Post unveiled their new toaster pastry to the press, and the food 
industry went into an uproar."

Just one year earlier, Robert Moog developed a voltage controlled interface 
for a synthesizer which led to the development of the"MiniMoog" -- the first 
commercially available/successful synthesizer. (Art influencing breakfast 
foods, or vice versa?)

And look for yourself what's happened since:

<Post- Pop Tart, Pre-Tang>

1964
Milton Babbitt Began applying serial techniques to electronic music.

1964
Morton Subotnik Realised "Silver Apples of the Moon" which demonstrated the 
first real-time control of voltage controlled synthesis.

1967
Karlheinze Stockhausen Realised "Hymnen" a piece which blended musique 
concrete and electronic music.

1967
The Beatles Released "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" Contained on 
the album was "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" in which George Martin and Geoff 
Emerick utilized musique concrete and electronic music techniques.

1968
Wendy Carlos Released "Switched On Bach" -- realization of Bach's music 
using the Moog synthesizer. This became the first platinum-selling classical 
music album.

<Post Tang>

1970's
Logarthmic increase in the use of synthsizers and electronic music 
techniques in pop music.

1979
Sequential Circuits Introduction of the Prophet -- first synthesizer to 
exhibit microprocessor control.

1982
October  Bob Moog announces the MIDI specification in an article in Keyboard 
Magazine.

1982
December  Sequential Circuits introduces the Prophet 600 -- the first MIDI 
keyboard.

1983
Yamaha Corporation Introduces the Yamaha DX7 -- first digital synthesizer to 
use FM synthesis techniques developed by John Chowning. This became the most 
popular electronic music keyboard -- selling thousands of units throughout 
the 1980s.


Needless to say, I think all of this information speaks for itself.


Stephen / Zygote
http://www.undertheradar.net






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