The Origin Of Electronic Sound Music Essay

If you were asked what electronic music was, what would you say. Some say it is just noise, but really it is so much more. Since its birth in 1922 with the creation of the Theremin, to the late sixties with the Moog Synthesizer, electronic music has morphed into a worldwide sensation with pushing the limit of experimenting with sound. Without the creation of some of this music's key components and creators, today's music would be pretty boring and one-dimensional.

Ever wonder what that eerie but pretty, unique sound is that you hear in old movies and radio? Well, that would be the Theremin. The Theremin was created and developed by Russian scientist Leon Theremin, from whom the instrument got its name. He first introduced an early model of the Theremin in 1922 called the Thereminvox. The Theremin was simply a wooden box on tall legs. Antennas were fixed on the wooden box. All during the 1930s, Theremin probed and created in his laboratory as electronics quickly grew to define modern America. This instrument's sound was dependent on the fluid and careful motions of a hand in the air, and wide gestures around it created an eerie and divine melody. Your left hand controls the pitch of the Theremin, and your right hand controls the volume level. The person playing this instrument appears to be conducting an orchestra. This shuddering wail of sound became a frequent aspect of the soundtracks of horror movies and other movie soundtracks of the 1950s and 1960s. Throughout his years of activity, Leon Theremin lifted his hands in the air and created a sound so unique, it heralded the beginning of twentieth century music.

Electronic music would not be as good as it is without the sound complex that is the synthesizer. These neat mechanisms were introduced to the world by Robert Moog (Moog Synthesizer). From his creation, he unleashed previously unknown sounds to the masses. A synthesizer is an electronic instrument that produces and combines a countless number of sounds. Before the invention of the Moog Synthesizer, performers had to rely on sound bit recordings and manufactured sounds. Technology played a big part in reinventing popular music.

This new technology that started in the 1960's was revolutionizing popular music. It allowed both musicians and performers to explore and generalize the potential of using synthesizers in music. Also, musicians were encouraged to think outside of the box when it came to music production and direction. The heightened manipulation increase caused synthesized sounds to become popular in mainstream and underground music and bands.

Synthesizers were one of the key ingredients that music needed to evolve. Thanks to Leon Theremin and Robert Moog the world has the Theremin and Moog Synthesizer. These instruments of sounds have given birth to countless genres of music like new wave of the 80's, prog rock or space rock of the 70s, and beyond. Electronic music will continue as long as there are people who want to create and explore new possibilities of music.

I had to see and listen to a present version of electronic music. For the concert I attended I traveled on down to South Street in Philadelphia. The location was The Theater of Living Arts, or as it is commonly known, the TLA. I walked along South Street window- shopping and had a pre-concert meal to fuel me up for the excitement to come. The show was at eight o'clock. But, the band I wanted to see, the headliner Crystal Castles, did not play until later. I waited in line for about an hour, but it would be worth it when I got inside. I was ready to hear and experience a kind of music that I am relatively new to, which is electronic rock.

When I walked in to the TLA or more like speed walked, I liked that the venue was not that big, which made it intimate and cool. The opening act, Teen Girl Fantasy, took the stage and within seconds started an energetic beat pattern on their synthesizers. I liked that they kept adding and adding layers of different sounds and voice samples to make things more interesting. After awhile I was thinking, all right this band has played long enough, give me some Crystal Castles.

I could feel the growing energy and pumped up excitement from the crowd waiting on the arrival of Crystal Castles. At around nine-thirty, I saw some figures moving from the backstage area to the stage, and then the lead singer of the band, Alice Glass and band member and main synth player and creator Ethan Gath, emerged.

The band started out with the song "Fainting Spells" which I like because it is a fast in-your-face kind of song. Alice Glass recently broke her ankle while on tour. She was performing with a crutch and surgical boot. But that did not matter, she still was the animal on stage. The band was minimal with their instruments that they played and used. Ethan Gath used a setup of three different boards of synthesizers and keyboards to produce the different riffs and melodies of Crystal Castle's songs. There was also a drum kit and microphone used by singer Alice Glass. Crystal Castles' sound is known as electro-punk. They combine the use of synthesizers, which create sound landscapes and intense vocals that are punk influenced.

The band played a mix of songs that I already knew, and some that I did not know that well. Throughout the show, Alice Glass the center point of the band, went into the audience multiple times, even with a broken ankle, which is pretty incredible and dangerous. Their songs went from incomprehensible vocals and spastic blips and bleeps, to very melodic but still intense synth riffs. One of the things I really liked about Crystal Castles is their ability to be scary and beautiful at the same time. The band also played a batch of new songs off of their second album, and older songs from their first album. They were feeding off the energy from the audience and used that the whole show.

Each of Crystal Castle's songs gives off its own feel. The music they make depends completely on the use of the synthesizer. A song like "Suffocation," gives off an almost mysterious and melodic melody that makes you want to hear more. Then there is a song like "Empathy," which projects an unusual but upbeat dance song structure. Crystal Castle's songs and overall appeal is intriguing, largely due to their use of the synthesizer.

The band served up two encores for the frenzied and sweaty audience, and went all out. They ended the show with Alice Glass crawling offstage with her band members following after, thus concluding a concert of great proportions of sound fury and fun for all. This was one of the most intense and really enjoyable concerts I have attended. I would, without a doubt, go see Crystal Castles again. I highly recommend seeing this band Crystal Castles; because they are one of the best live bands out there right now. They are spreading the sound barrage that is Electronic Music.