Raymond Scott

We’re big fans of Raymond Scott.  While he’s best known as a composer of quirky big band-era music that became the sound of cartoons, he went on to help pioneer electronic music. 

Thanks to musician, arranger, and RS fan Les Deutsch, you can now download free Raymond Scott ringtones formatted specifically for iPhone.

Details from Les: ”I could have converted the original recordings to ringtones, but I really enjoy the quirky synthesizer sounds that the Mac’s internal QuickTime app generates directly from Finale.”

Download them at the Raymond Scott blog. 

Note: When I downloaded the files, they had a .m4r.html extension. Changing this .m4r made the files recognizable as ringtones.

Jeff Winner of the Raymond Scott blog has a mission: to rid the world of Musica Para La Intimidad – an album that is apparently a blot on the electronic music pioneer’s name:

We have “previously warned about the dangers of a stunningly boring album recorded by Raymond Scott in 1957, and subsequently issued under three titles in the US. It’s my duty to further caution collectors who value their time and/or ears: a fourth pressing of this dreary record was released in 1966 by the Spanish label Orlador, under the title MUSICA PARA LA INTIMIDAD.

I would have guessed this means “Music For Intimacy,” but according to at least one Google translator, it’s “Music For Privacy.”

Had RS kept the recording private, the world would be a better place. Not even a sexy chica displaying her color-coordinated pants, shoes, and upholstery can make this lackluster album worth purchasing.

If you see this record, run away. If you’re unfortunate enough to already own a copy (under any of its titles), please smash it with a hammer into a thousand little pieces, place the debris into a Ziploc baggie, and send it to me or Irwin; we will incinerate all copies at a public bonfire in Texas on September 9th at midnight. Location TBA. Consider this a WANTED poster.”

A recommendation like this makes the album seem nearly irresistible, doesn’t it?

Here’s a bit of Raymond Scott holiday trivia:

Summit, New Jersey, Christmas 1942: The “famous Raymond Scott Quintet, featuring Dorothy Collins,” performs for a “Holiday Assembly” at the Masonic Hall. Scott performed his composition Silent Music.

This “unrecorded” work has long been part of Scott lore—a “composition” consisting of no notes, a silent performance in which the musicians go through the motions of playing without making any sounds. This was a decade before John Cage’s legendary noteless work 4′33″, which caused such a ruckus when it was introduced in concert by David Tudor in 1952.

First Bob Moog gets turned into a doll – now Raymond Scott. 

Japanese artist toy company Presspop Gallery has released their Raymond Scott 100th Anniversary vinyl figurine & CD set in time for the 2008 holidays.

The deluxe limited edition package features a miniature replica of Scott’s Clavivox, his patented 1950s keyboard synthesizer, and a CD featuring rare, unreleased tracks from the Scott Archives. Presspop have produced only a small batch of these unique high-quality sets.

The figurine was designed by Archer Hewitt, who designed the Moog doll. It retails for $49.

RaymondScott.com is the exclusive US retailer.

King’s Place in London is hosting Cartoons and Weirdness – A Tribute to Raymond Scott, on Tuesday, October 14th.

The first night of Sound Source celebrates the work and influence of Raymond Scott, a lost genius of the 20th Century.

Bandleader, inventor and experimentalist – Scott’s career was diverse to say the least. He’s best known for inspiring the soundtracks for cartoons such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and The Simpsons, but in his time Scott also developed the first musical sequencer and even spent time as the head of electronic research and development at Motown Records.

This spirit of adventure permeates the night, from the Stu Brown Sextet’s reinterpretation of Scott’s early work to Falco Subbuteo’s experimental electronica (featuring spnm shortlisted composer, Valerie Pearson).

The Sound Source regulars no.w.here bring complementary films and The Open Source, curated by Music Orbit provides a unique platform for the best emerging composers and artists. Read more…