Andrei Smirnov: Sound in Z - Experiments in Sound and Electronic Music

Russia, 1917-A time of complex political upheaval that resulted in the demise of the Russian monarchy and seemingly offered great prospects for a new dawn of art and science. Inspired by revolutionary ideas, artists and enthusiasts developed innumerable musical and audio inventions, instruments and ideas often long ahead of their time-a culture that was to be cut off in its prime as it collided with the totalitarian state of the 1930s. Smirnov's account of the period offers an engaging introduction to some of the key figures and their work, including Arseny Avraamov's open-air performance of 1922 featuring the Caspian flotilla, artillery guns, hydroplanes and all the town's factory sirens; Solomon Nikritin's Projection Theatre; Alexei Gastev, the polymath who coined the term 'bio-mechanics'; pioneering film maker Dziga Vertov, director of the Laboratory of Hearing and the Symphony of Noises; and Vladimir Popov, the pioneer of Noise and inventor of Sound Machines. Shedding new light on better-known figures such as Leon Theremin (inventor of the world's first electronic musical instrument, the Theremin), the publication also investigates the work of a number of pioneers of electronic sound tracks using 'graphical sound' techniques, such as Nikolai Voinov, Evgeny Sholpo and Boris Yankovsky. From eavesdropping on pianists to the 23-string electric guitar, microtonal music to the story of the man imprisoned for pentatonic research, Noise Orchestras to Machine Worshippers, Sound sin Z documents an extraordinary and largely forgotten chapter in the history of music and audio technology. Russia, 1917 - Inspired By Revolutionary Ideas, Artists And Enthusiasts Developed Innumerable Musical Inventions, Instruments And Ideas Often Long Ahead Of Their Time - A Culture That Was To Be Cut Off In Its Prime As It Collided With The Totalitarian State Of The 1930s. Andrey Smirnov's Account Of The Period Offers An Engaging Introduction To Some Of The Key Figures And Their Work, Including Arseny Avraamov's Open-air Performance Of 1922 Featuring The Caspian Flotilla, Artillery Guns, Hydroplanes And All The Town's Factory Sirens, And Alexei Gastev, The Polymath Who Coined The Term 'bio-mechanics'. Shedding New Light On Better-known Figures Such As Leon Theremin (inventor Of The World's First Electronic Musical Instrument, The Theremin), The Publication Also Investigates The Work Of A Number Of Pioneers Of Electronic Sound Tracks Using 'graphical Sound' Techniques. Sound In Z Documents An Extraordinary And Largely Forgotten Chapter In The History Of Music And Audio Technology. Andrey Smirnov. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Russia, 1917 - inspired by revolutionary ideas, artists and enthusiasts developed innumerable musical inventions, instruments and ideas often long ahead of their time - a culture that was to be cut off in its prime as it collided with the totalitarian state of the 1930s. Andrey Smirnov's account of the period offers an engaging introduction to some of the key figures and their work, including Arseny Avraamov's open-air performance of 1922 featuring the Caspian flotilla, artillery guns, hydroplanes and all the town's factory sirens, and Alexei Gastev, the polymath who coined the term 'bio-mechanics'. Shedding new light on better-known figures such as Leon Theremin (inventor of the world's first electronic musical instrument, the Theremin), the publication also investigates the work of a number of pioneers of electronic sound tracks using 'graphical sound' techniques. Sound in Z documents an extraordinary and largely forgotten chapter in the history of music and audio technology."--Page 4 de la couverture Sound in Z supplies the astounding and long-lost chapter in the early story of electronic music: the Soviet experiment, a chapter that runs from 1917 to the late 1930s. Its heroes are Arseny Avraamov, inventor of Graphic Sound (drawing directly onto magnetic tape) and a 48-note scale; Alexei Gastev, who coined the term "bio-mechanics"; Leon Theremin, inventor of the world's first electronic instrument, the Theremin; and others whose dreams for electronic sound were cut short by Stalin's regime. Drawing on materials from numerous Moscow archives, this book reconstructs Avraamov's "Symphony of Sirens," an open-air performance for factory whistles, foghorns and artillery fire first staged in 1922, explores Graphic Sound and recounts Theremin's extraordinary career--compiling the first full account of Russian electronic music. Russia, 1917 - inspired by revolutionary ideas, artists and enthusiasts developed innumerable musical inventions, instruments and ideas often long ahead of their time - a culture that was to be cut off in its prime as it collided with the totalitarian state of the 1930s. Smirnov's account of the period offers an engaging introduction to some of the key figures and their work.0Exhibition: Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France (20.09.08 - 22.01.09). 0