RCA Electronic Synthesizer Sounds 1955 demonstration lp

$

103

The Sounds and Music of the RCA Electronic Music Synthesizer. RCA Victor LM-1922 Experimental

This amazing artifact from 1955 is the first lp ever to feature a synthesizer. It is also generally regarded as the first lp of electronic music (though there were probably some early musique concrete compilations which were released around the same time). This is a demonstration of the then-unbelievable capabilities of the RCA Synth, with one side of explanations of the technology behind the machine (spoken in a stereotypical 1950s nerdy announcer voice, interspersed with synthesized example sounds), then another side filled with 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 like Vladimir Ussachevsky, Milton Babbitt, Otto Luening, and Charles Wuorinen all composed experimental works using it. The lp was produced by Dr. Harry F. Olson, director of the RCA Acoustical Laboratory. It comes with extensive illustrated notes which supplement the recording, with essays and diagrams on things like "The Physical Properties of Musical Tones, " "Synthesis and the Musician," etc.

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, Chappell Recorded Music Library, 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, Walter/Wendy Carlos, John R. Pierce, Newman Guttman, James Tenney, Mu-Ziq, Aphex Twin, Autechre, etc...

Vinyl Condition: vg+
Cover Condition: vg+ (there is a small split in both the top and bottom seams at center, but barely any other signs of wear)







I also have several Columbia Princeton Electronic Music Center lps for sale which use the RCA Synth. Check out my other auctions this week for more avant garde/experimental, early electronic/electroacoustic, 20th century classical, atonal, minimalist, and Moog and other early synthesizer lps.

Shipping will be 3.85 for 1-2 single records for media rate to US destinations, then 0.50 for each additional (expedited shipping and insurance is also available on request). Elsewhere shipping 1 lp to Canada by airmail is 6.50; Europe/UK/Scandinavia is 6.85 surface or 11.85 air; Japan/Australia is 7.00 surface or 13.50 air; other international destinations vary. Combine multiple items to save on shipping. I prefer Paypal (which allows for fastest possible shipment) and also accept cash, money order (from US financial institutions only), and Western Union money transfer. If you are paying by Paypal and have won multiple items, please use a single lump Paypal payment. 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).

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