This is a brief tribute to the experimental work of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, made by Chris Carter (Throbbing Gristle).

All the sounds and loops originate from the BC8 synth, the Gakken SX-150 synth and the BugBrand Weevil synths. All the effects and processing is done with the Boss pedals.

“Oh yeah,” notes Carter.  “I did the whole thing ‘upside down’.”

If there was one single thing, one defining moment that turned my life around as a teenager, it would be the first time I heard “The Dreams” in 1966.

The Dreams was the first part of a four part Electronic Music piece originally broadcast over the BBC in 1964 and released by the BBC Transcription Service to radio stations in the U.S. shortly after.

It was described as “an invention for radio” conceived and written by Barry Bermange and scored by The BBC Radiophonic Workshop. The result was haunting, hypnotic and totally overwhelming for these fifteen year old ears. It completely changed the way I listened and reacted to music.

You can preview The Dreams below:

If you know more about this production, leave a comment!

Surviving members of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop are scheduled to perform at London’s Camden Roundhouse this coming Sunday (May 17).

The event will feature Radiophonic alumni Peter Howell, Paddy Kingsland, Roger Limb, Dick Mills and Mark Ayres, and offer a Q&A and concert.

“The programme is still evolving,” says Ayers, “but we will be playing a selection of pieces from the entire BBC Radiophonic Workshop’s output. Many tracks will be familiar from the recent CD reissues of BBC Radiophonic Music, The Radiophonic Workshop and Retrospective. These include Doctor Who, The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, The Astronauts, Children’s TV tracks, music by Delia Derbyshire and John Baker, Seatrek and The Body In Question.”

Tickets are £20.00 each.

If any UK Synthtopia readers can make it to the event, come back and leave a comment!

via sonicstate

The Electric Music Machine takes a behind the scenes look at what happens at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

Parts 2 &3 below. Five Days At The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, Part 2

Click here to view the embedded video.

Five Days At The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, Part 3

Click here to view the embedded video.

via Stigma

A dedication compilation of material celebrating the pioneering spirit of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

Material is edited from the following documentary and information sources: The Alchemists of Sound, The Masters of Sound, The Music Arcade, Radiophonic Workshop archive footage, Doctor Who titles, The New Sound of Music and Sonic State.

via JeffreyPlaide

The Alchemists of Sound is a great 2003 documentary taking a look at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

It features lots of fantastic archival footage, plus interviews that look at not just the history of the workshop, but the history of electroacoustic music and sound effects.

The Alchemists of Sound (Part 2)

The Alchemists of Sound (Part 3)

The Alchemists of Sound (Part 4)

The Alchemists of Sound (Part 5)

The Alchemists of Sound (Part 6)

Mike Ayres & Dick Mills talk about the history of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

Planet Nerd’s Dan Walmsley talks to experimental composer David Shea about the history of the Doctor Who music and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

Electric Music Machine – Part 1

Electric Music Machine – Part 2

Electric Music Machine – Part 3

Electric Music Machine – Part 4

Electric Music Machine – Part 5

via analogsuicide