RCA Electronic Synthesizer Sounds orig 4x45rpm box 1955

$

281

The Sounds and Music of the RCA Electronic Music Synthesizer





label & cat. no.:
RCA Victor ERD-1922 Experimental pressed in:
USA date:
1955 format:
LP condition:
Vinyl: all 4 are vg+ with just a few minor unfeelable marks
Cover: ex (minor wear, couple of tiny tears, overall amazing for its age) description:

Ultra rare 45rpm box set version of this amazing artifact, released around the same time as the single lp version, with which it seems to share an identical track listing. But, this issue is a higher-quality audiophile pressing and is also more attractively packaged and includes several promotional inserts - a treasure to find, as few collectors even know of its existence! This is the first album ever to feature a synthesizer. It is also generally regarded as the first album of electronic music (though there were also some early musique concrete recordings which were released around the same time). It's a demonstration of the then-unbelievable capabilities of the RCA Synth, with explanations of the technology and science behind the punchcard-fed, room-sized machine (spoken in a stereotypical 1950s nerdy announcer voice, interspersed with synthesized example sounds), as well as actual music produced by the synth. There are classical works by Bach and Brahms, folk songs ("in the style of a Hillbilly Band"), and pop and jazz (including Irving Berlin's Blue Skies "in the style of a dance band"). The RCA Synth would a few years later be installed at the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center, where luminaries Vladimir Ussachevsky, Milton Babbitt, Otto Luening, and Charles Wuorinen all composed seminal experimental works using it. The lp was produced by Dr. Harry F. Olson, director of the RCA Acoustical Laboratory. It includes extensive illustrated notes, with essays and diagrams on subjects like "The Physical Properties of Musical Tones, " "Synthesis and the Musician," etc. "Introducing the RCA Electronic Music Synthesizer - a system capable of creating any sound which has ever been produced, and any sound which can be imagined by the human mind..." This lp should be heard by anyone interested in electronic music and instruments like the Theremin, Oskar Sala and his trautonium, Robert Moog, Donald Buchla/Morton Subotnick, Clara Rockmore, ondes Martenot, Ondioline, Arp, Raymond Scott, Bruce Haack, Jean-Michelle Jarre, Paul Beaver, Bernie Krause, Pierre Henry, Max Mathews, Jean-Claude Risset, Bernard Parmegiani, Herbert Eimert, Robert Beyer, Gottfried Michael Koenig, Jean-Jacques Perrey, Gershon Kingsley, Tom Dissevelt, John R. Pierce, Newman Guttman, James Tenney, Mu-Ziq, Aphex Twin, Autechre, etc... Check out my other items for more avant garde/experimental, early electronic/electroacoustic, free jazz, psych, space-age pop, 20th century classical, spoken word, sound effects, and artist records. US Shipping - Media Mail is $5.00 for 1-2 single records, then $0.65 for each additional; Priority Mail is also available but pricing depends on zipcode (you can check eBay's calculated shipping price at the bottom of this page); other expedited shipping options and insurance are all available on request. Combine multiple items to save on shipping.
International Shipping - 1 12" lp to Europe/UK/Scandinavia/Asia/Australia is $15.00 for First Class Airmail; to Canada is $8.71 for First Class Airmail; to Mexico is $12.53 for First Class Airmail; other international destinations vary, please email for a quote. 7" records will cost less; heavy box sets will cost more. Insured Priority Airmail with tracking and other expedited methods are also available but pricing depends on destination country and will be calculated after auction closes (or you can email me with your address for a quote). Combine multiple items to save on shipping; I can hold paid records to be combined with a future purchase if desired. Note: I can also offer international buyers the super-cheap M-Bag bulk airmail rate for orders of 8 or more lps; to most destinations this costs $38.00 for up to 16 lps, a huge per-record savings over standard rates for smaller parcels! Feel free to email with any shipping questions. Payment - I accept Paypal (which allows for fastest possible shipment) and other methods, email with any questions. If you are paying by Paypal and have won multiple items, please use a single Paypal payment. I will send an invoice email to all winners shortly after my auctions close, and another email after payment has been received to confirm item shipment. Packing - I pack professionally and with the utmost care drawn from years of experience trading vinyl internationally. I use new record mailers from Cameron Packaging (which I have determined are the best and most protective) reinforced with cardboard inserts and bubble wrap padding. All records are shipped with poly plastic sleeves. All packages are completely sealed with strong packing tape covering all openings. Unless requested, no paper invoice is included in the package, both to save trees and to avoid customs difficulties. If you'd like your package done any differently, just let me know. Other Info - Feel free to email me if you have any questions (need more info, want more pictures, etc.); you can use the 'ask seller a question' link above. Records are visually graded unless otherwise noted; my condition rating scale is M (sealed) / NM (unplayed) / EX (barely used) / VG (some evident wear from prior use but no major flaws) / G (major flaws). All included album inserts are pictured in the listing; what you see is what you get, if I know an insert is missing I will mention it in the description. Satisfaction guaranteed; if you have any problems with your order please contact me directly. Enter your email to join the
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