The Cambridge Companion to Electronic Music

Now updated and expanded with four new chapters, this book explores the history, theory, creation and analysis of electronic music.

Nick Collins (Edited by), Julio d'Escrivan (Edited by)

9781107133556, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 November 2017

358 pages, 34 b/w illus. 9 tables
25.5 x 17.9 x 2 cm, 0.87 kg

Musicians are always quick to adopt and explore new technologies. The fast-paced changes wrought by electrification, from the microphone via the analogue synthesiser to the laptop computer, have led to a wide range of new musical styles and techniques. Electronic music has grown to a broad field of investigation, taking in historical movements such as musique concrète and elektronische Musik, and contemporary trends such as electronic dance music and electronica. The first edition of this book won the 2009 Nicolas Bessaraboff Prize as it brought together researchers at the forefront of the sonic explorations empowered by electronic technology to provide accessible and insightful overviews of core topics and uncover some hitherto less publicised corners of worldwide movements. This updated and expanded second edition includes four entirely new chapters, as well as new original statements from globally renowned artists of the electronic music scene, and celebrates a diverse array of technologies, practices and music.

1. The origins of electronic music Andrew Hugill
2. Electronic music and the studio Margaret Schedel
3. Live electronic music Nicolas Collins
4. A history of programming and music Ge Wang
Artists' statements I: Laurie Spiegel, Yasunao Tone, John Oswald, Mathias Gmachl (Farmers Manual), Erdem Helvacioglu, Pauline Oliveros, Chris Jeffs, Rodrigo Sigal, Mira Calix, Seong-Ah Shin, Carsten Nicolai, Warren Burt, Max Mathews
5. Interactivity and live computer music Sergi Jordà
6. Algorithmic composition Karlheinz Essl
7. Live audiovisuals Amy Alexander and Nick Collins
8. Network music Julian Rohrhuber
9. Electronic music and the moving image Julio d'Escriván
Artists' statements II: Kevin Saunderson, Kanta Horio, Donna Hewitt, Alejandro Viñao, Bubblyfish Barry Truax, Lukas Ligeti (Burkina Electric), Christina Kubisch, Murat Ertel, Adina Izarra, CybOrk, Francis Dhomont, David Behrman, Kevin Blechdom (Kristin Erickson) Karlheinz Stockhausen, George E. Lewis
10. Computer generation and manipulation of sounds Stefania Serafin
11. Trends in electroacoustic music Natasha Barrett
12. Electronic sound art and aesthetic experience Adinda van 't Klooster
13. DIY and maker communities in electronic music John Richards
14. Extending the instrumental sound world using electronics Monty Adkins
15. The analysis of electronic music Mary Simoni
Artists' statements III: Éliane Radigue, Daniel Miller, Ikue Mori, Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti, Holly Herndon, Vince Clarke, Ralf Hütter, Hasnizam Abdul Wahid, Elsa Justel, Beatriz Ferreyra.

Subject Areas: Electronic music [AVGV], Music [AV]