Comments on: Allen Strange, 1942-2008 http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/ Synthesizer and electronic music news, synth and music software reviews and more! Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:47:52 -0500 hourly 1 By: Dennis Borycki http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-134399 Dennis Borycki Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:10:43 +0000 http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-134399 It was in 1972, or so, that I was a student of Allen's at San Jose State, both in his electronic music studio, and in a music theory class on Form and Analysis. I remember the first time I looked at what was probably a Buchla modular synthesizer, with all the patch cables, I was totally clueless. With Allen's guidance, and his Electronic Music text, I was able to gain an understanding of electronics that I still use to this day. It wasn't only his storehouse of knowledge that helped students overcome musical obstacles. He seemed to have a wisdom beyond his years, combined with a willingness to try something different, or humorous and out of the box. I still find myself thinking that, "there's got to be a more interesting, and unique way to do this". Even after all these years I think Allen had something to do with that. Some influences just don't go away. After not having seen him for almost 30 years I sent him a copy of some piano music I had written and recorded. He was kind enough to send a response approving of the music, even though he couldn't remember the face that went with my name. After all the students he has taught I could totally understand. And yes, the Indian food was excellent. It was in 1972, or so, that I was a student of Allen’s at San Jose State, both in his electronic music studio, and in a music theory class on Form and Analysis. I remember the first time I looked at what was probably a Buchla modular synthesizer, with all the patch cables, I was totally clueless. With Allen’s guidance, and his Electronic Music text, I was able to gain an understanding of electronics that I still use to this day.

It wasn’t only his storehouse of knowledge that helped students overcome musical obstacles. He seemed to have a wisdom beyond his years, combined with a willingness to try something different, or humorous and out of the box. I still find myself thinking that, “there’s got to be a more interesting, and unique way to do this”. Even after all these years I think Allen had something to do with that. Some influences just don’t go away.

After not having seen him for almost 30 years I sent him a copy of some piano music I had written and recorded. He was kind enough to send a response approving of the music, even though he couldn’t remember the face that went with my name. After all the students he has taught I could totally understand. And yes, the Indian food was excellent.

]]> By: Todd Tate http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-131746 Todd Tate Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:45:08 +0000 http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-131746 Allen Strange and Dan Wyman awarded me a scholarship in 88 to go to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for a summer session to study Electronic Music with Susan Cianna. I am forever gratful for his class 85-90 and his firm handed guidance through such developmental years as a young rocker in a Jazz program. Both he and Dan were big influences on my early years in SJSU's music program. I just found his 2nd edition book and rocky top screamers score and some of my MASC programming he taught us on the Boochla. As I am living in Marin now, I just heard the news recently through Ed Goldfarb, whom I met just recently. Best to his family and loved ones. God bless, Todd Tate www.myspace.com/toddtatemusic Allen Strange and Dan Wyman awarded me a scholarship in 88 to go to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for a summer session to study Electronic Music with Susan Cianna. I am forever gratful for his class 85-90 and his firm handed guidance through such developmental years as a young rocker in a Jazz program. Both he and Dan were big influences on my early years in SJSU’s music program.

I just found his 2nd edition book and rocky top screamers score and some of my MASC programming he taught us on the Boochla.

As I am living in Marin now, I just heard the news recently through Ed Goldfarb, whom I met just recently.

Best to his family and loved ones.

God bless,

Todd Tate
http://www.myspace.com/toddtatemusic

]]> By: Ann Richards http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-127634 Ann Richards Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:08:06 +0000 http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-127634 I played flute in Allen's Contemporary Music Ensemble and took his electronic music class at San Jose State 1971-73. His enthusiam was spontaneous; I loved hearing Peter Scheikle played in our orchestration class and eating Indian food at Allen's and Patricia's house. Even though I'm now an orchestra flutist (Nashville Symphony), I appreciate so much his training which also helped me as I continued new music & electronic music at Northwestern U. I wish I had known he lived on Bainbridge Island when I visited that area several times (including once when a bomb scare on the ferry stranded me on the island away from the Amy Grant tour concert I was playing in Seattle!) The best to Patricia, his wonderful wife and partner. I played flute in Allen’s Contemporary Music Ensemble and took his electronic music class at San Jose State 1971-73. His enthusiam was spontaneous; I loved hearing Peter Scheikle played in our orchestration class and eating Indian food at Allen’s and Patricia’s house. Even though I’m now an orchestra flutist (Nashville Symphony), I appreciate so much his training which also helped me as I continued new music & electronic music at Northwestern U. I wish I had known he lived on Bainbridge Island when I visited that area several times (including once when a bomb scare on the ferry stranded me on the island away from the Amy Grant tour concert I was playing in Seattle!) The best to Patricia, his wonderful wife and partner.

]]> By: synthhead http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-124538 synthhead Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:09:55 +0000 http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-124538 Rick - thanks for your thoughts, too. The more I hear about Allen Strange, the more I wish I'd had a chance to meet him. Rick – thanks for your thoughts, too.

The more I hear about Allen Strange, the more I wish I’d had a chance to meet him.

]]> By: Rick Guido http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-124524 Rick Guido Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:04:50 +0000 http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-124524 In 1976 I went back to San Jose State to work on my masters. Walking to a class on the upper level, I notice this small room filled with all this electronic equipment! I asked around and discovered that it was the electronic music lab run by Allen Strange. The very next semester I was enrolled in the class. Needless to say it was one of most enjoyable classes I have ever taken at San Jose State. After taking the class I really wanted my own synthesizer to work on, however I didn’t have the funds to buy one so I decided to build my own. At the time, two guys, Scott and Dave were building synthesizer components in their apartment in Santa Clara – e-mu. So, every month or so, I would go to their place and buy a new component for my home brewed synth. My system came together very well with Scott and Dave’s help. Of course the rest is history for e-mu. I sold the original home brew synth in the late 80’s. More recently, I’ve re-entered the electronic music arena with a German made synthesizer called Doepfer. I have Allen to thank for getting me interested in electronic music and will miss him. In 1976 I went back to San Jose State to work on my masters. Walking to a class on the upper level, I notice this small room filled with all this electronic equipment! I asked around and discovered that it was the electronic music lab run by Allen Strange. The very next semester I was enrolled in the class. Needless to say it was one of most enjoyable classes I have ever taken at San Jose State.

After taking the class I really wanted my own synthesizer to work on, however I didn’t have the funds to buy one so I decided to build my own. At the time, two guys, Scott and Dave were building synthesizer components in their apartment in Santa Clara – e-mu. So, every month or so, I would go to their place and buy a new component for my home brewed synth. My system came together very well with Scott and Dave’s help. Of course the rest is history for e-mu.

I sold the original home brew synth in the late 80’s. More recently, I’ve re-entered the electronic music arena with a German made synthesizer called Doepfer.

I have Allen to thank for getting me interested in electronic music and will miss him.

]]> By: synthhead http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-124479 synthhead Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:19:26 +0000 http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-124479 Tim That's a great reminiscence. Thanks for sharing it! I didn't get to meet Allen Strange, but remember reading his Electronic Music book in the 80's when I was in school. I may have to dig that out and read through it again. I'm sure I'd learn something. Sounds like you had great experiences with him and learned a lot, too. Tim

That’s a great reminiscence. Thanks for sharing it!

I didn’t get to meet Allen Strange, but remember reading his Electronic Music book in the 80’s when I was in school. I may have to dig that out and read through it again. I’m sure I’d learn something.

Sounds like you had great experiences with him and learned a lot, too.

]]> By: Tim Conrardy http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-124477 Tim Conrardy Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:47:05 +0000 http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/02/26/allen-strange/#comment-124477 In college,( DeAnza in Cupertino) I took the electronic music course which was then tuaght by Allen. I came into the class not knowing a filter from an envelope. After a year, he recommended me as tutor for the class. I also took private lessons from him. One of his methods was to bring me in his room full of Buchla synths, unplug all the patch cables, hand them to me, then leave the room! Much later on, when I was totally into my Atari algorithmic applications, he invited me to give a lecture/demo for his class at San Jose state. It turned out well, as we were able to project the Atari screen to 4 feet tall! Another neat fact was although he is well known for his advant-gard compositions and techniques, he also taught a class in country music. I also found it interesting that he played bass in a jazz ensemble with David Bristol, who was one of the main programmers for the DX7 when it came out. I still have my DX7 books with his patches in it. I think he was the one who did the EPiano preset we have all come to cherish thru the years. When I got to visit him last summer (2007), he told me all sorts of stories about Don Buchla and how he came up with his designs for his synths and got to spend some time with him. He gave me one on one lessons in Max MSP, and got to party with him, listen to music and enjoy good mexican food. He was a great guy, and I will dearly miss him. He has been a big influence on my own work as well as countless others as he was a pioneer for electronic music education. Our next AlgoMusic product will be dedicated to him. -Tim Conrardy (March 08) In college,( DeAnza in Cupertino) I took the electronic music course which was then tuaght by Allen. I came into the class not knowing a filter from an envelope. After a year, he recommended me as tutor for the class. I also took private lessons from him. One of his methods was to bring me in his room full of Buchla synths, unplug all the patch cables, hand them to me, then leave the room!

Much later on, when I was totally into my Atari algorithmic applications, he invited me to give a lecture/demo for his class at San Jose state. It turned out well, as we were able to project the Atari screen to 4 feet tall!

Another neat fact was although he is well known for his advant-gard compositions and techniques, he also taught a class in country music.

I also found it interesting that he played bass in a jazz ensemble with David Bristol, who was one of the main programmers for the DX7 when it came out. I still have my DX7 books with his patches in it. I think he was the one who did the EPiano preset we have all come to cherish thru the years.

When I got to visit him last summer (2007), he told me all sorts of stories about Don Buchla and how he came up with his designs for his synths and got to spend some time with him. He gave me one on one lessons in Max MSP, and got to party with him, listen to music and enjoy good mexican food. He was a great guy, and I will dearly miss him. He has been a big influence on my own work as well as countless others as he was a pioneer for electronic music education.
Our next AlgoMusic product will be dedicated to him.
-Tim Conrardy (March 08)

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