Modulations: Electronic Timeline

1913
Luigi Russolo “Art of Noises”- use of industrial noises and rhythms

1920s
First manageable electronic instruments appear: Theremin, Ondes Martenot Trautonium

1939
John Cage Imaginary landscape #1 first composed piece to use means of electronic reproduction

1950
Pierre Henry and Pierre Schaeffer compose ‘Symphonie Pour Un Homme Seul’ – first piece of musique concrete

1951
John Cage: Imaginary Landscape #4 first piece to use radios as instruments

1956
Karlheinz Stockhausen ‘Gesang der Junglinge’ uses both natural sounds and electronically generated noises

1964
First moog sythesizer hits the market

1967
Stockhausen Telemusik uses shortwave radio as instruments to create a “world music”

Early 70’s
Miles Davis electric records are influenced by Telemusik. Producer Teo Macero edits these recordings in studio

1970’s
Throbbing Gristle make a horrible racket and call it industrial music

1970’s
Hip-hop DJs in New York use the spinback capabilities of the Technics 1200s turntable to create scratching and extend grooves by cutting back and forth between 2 copies of the same record

1971
Giorgio Moroder Chicory Tip’s version of “Son Of My Father” is first song featuring a Moog to make pop charts

Mid 70’s
Brian Eno coins the term ambient and releases his album “Another Green World”

1977
Moroder’s production of Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” becomes a disco classic

Kraftwerk releases “Trans-Europe Express”

1980-82
Roland introduces the TB-303 bassline machine and the TR-808 drum machine

1982
Afrika Bambaata’s “Planet Rock” samples Kraftwerk and creates electro

Mid 80’s
First affordable samplers hit the market which enable musicians to capture and manipulate existing sounds. Ensoniq Mirage + Akai S900

TG’s Genesis Porridge claims that he brought house music to England. However it happened, the music starts a youth culture revolution in UK

Mid 80’s
Musicians in Chicago misuse the Roland TB303 and create Acid House

Mid 80’s
Detroit musicians create Techno

Late 80’s
Ambient is reborn as chill out music for tired clubbers

1990’s
Trip Hop/ Downtempo

1990’s
Jungle