Sound and Time Machines - A History of Electronic Musical Instruments

Elec­tro­nic musi­cal instru­ments are always also time machi­nes: they con­den­se tech­ni­cal inven­ti­on, aes­the­tic ima­gi­na­ti­on, and the ques­ti­on of how sound is con­cei­ved, built, and play­ed in a given era. From ear­ly elec­tro­me­cha­ni­cal appa­ra­tu­s­es to digi­tal instru­ments on pho­nes, tablets, and por­ta­ble inter­faces, they trace a histo­ry in which music, tech­no­lo­gy, and ever­y­day life beco­me intert­wi­ned in new ways.

At the cent­re are con­cepts that open up his­to­ri­cal, aes­the­tic, and prac­ti­cal approa­ches to elec­tro­nic instru­ments. Lis­tening, hands-on expe­ri­men­ta­ti­on, and tra­cing tech­ni­cal deve­lo­p­ments come tog­e­ther to make tan­gi­ble how instru­ments not only pro­du­ce sounds, but also trans­form ways of play­ing, musi­cal forms, and cul­tu­ral imaginaries.

Depen­ding on the con­text and for­mat, dif­fe­rent empha­ses can be set — for exam­p­le on the deve­lo­p­ment of elec­tro­nic instru­ments and their key tech­no­lo­gies, on sound par­cours with old and new sound machi­nes, on their impact on musi­cal cul­tu­re and gen­res, or on cur­rent and future forms of elec­tro­nic music-making. Con­cepts for working with elec­tro­nic instru­ments in music edu­ca­ti­on can also be part of the format.