[KwartzAnnounce] April 26th, 2011 - Presentation: The Development Of Synthesizers In Popular Music

[Kwartzlab Members Announce List]

The Development Of Synthesizers In Popular Music
>From Humble Beginnings To The Advent Of Polyphony
 
David Carswell will present a brief history of electronic sound sources in popular music including the Musitron, 
the Theremin, the Electro-Theremin, the Mellotron, and the development of the Moog Synthesizer and it's 
contemporaries. The discussion will focus primarily on music synthesis from its earliest experiments to the 
commercial introduction of Polyphonic synthesizers and how these developments manifested in popular music.
 
Some of the pioneers of electronic sound sources will be discussed including Max Crook, Raymond Scott, Paul 
Tanner, Bob Whitsell, Paul Beaver, Hugh LeCaine, Walter/Wendy Carlos, Mickey Dolenz, Mike Vickers, Mort 
Garson, and Keith Emerson. There will also be the opportunity to delve in Musique Concrete (1948) and the BBC 
Radiophonic Workshop (1963) and their influence on British artists in the 1960's and 70's.
The presentation will be structured, but open to questions and comments, and will include sound and song 
samples showing the development and eventual acceptance of the synthesizer.

About Dave

David “Doc” Carswell is a self-styled Musicologist with a background and education in Broadcast & Print 
Journalism, Radio and Television Engineering and Information Technology. David has also spent the last thirty 
years as a “part-time” live and studio sound engineer, working with such varied artists as Rough Trade, The 
Deserters, Platinum Blonde, The Forgotten Rebels, The Look People, The Watch and Kim Mitchell. David is 
currently a Technology and Facility Manager for a large international non-profit organization.
 
David’s love affair with music began at a very early age and very soon he realized that sometimes the story 
behind the music was just as interesting (if not more, in some cases) as the music itself. Synthesizers in 
particular have become a passion since first hearing 1971’s Lucky Man. “I heard THAT sound at end of Lucky 
Man and was absolutely blown away – I had never heard anything like it! I found myself, from that moment on, 
learning as much as I could about this amazing instrument – I needed to know how this thing worked!”
 
David is married with two children, two grandchildren and two cats, none of whom really share his enthusiasm 
for musical history and trivia.
 
Presentation Details

Tuesday, April 26, 2011
KWARTZLAB - Kitchener, ON
8:00pm
 		 	   		  
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