EURO-SERGE - INTRODUCTION
ELBY Designs - Laurie Biddulph
9 Follan Close, Kariong, NSW 2250, Australia
6 of 21
INTRODUCTION
A SYNTHESIZER is a musical instrument, which means that it is a tool for
making music. With any tool there are two things to learn: what it is that is
being made AND how to use the tool to help in its making. In this case you
have to learn about the structure and the nature of the music you are making,
whether it be electronic, rock, jazz, classical or what-have-you, AND how to
use a synthesizer. However, these two things, the music and the instrument,
are highly inter-related. Take the piano for instance, which would not have
been developed unless there already existed a certain kind of music (chordal,
many voiced). And yet, once developed, the piano changed the kind of music
written and played. It is unlikely that Rags would have been developed if
there had been no piano.
The same is true for the synthesizer. It was developed originally in the Sixties
as a response to certain kinds of music that was already being written and
played (tape collage, 'classical electronic' and certain kinds of jazz), yet it
soon changed the music for which it was built. Before long it found its way
into other kinds of music, such as pop and rock. So of course each of these
kinds of music changed the synthesizer as well. There is now, for instance, a
'phaser' available on most synthesizers - a device that electronically
duplicates certain rock and roll recording techniques.
All of this is to say that a synthesizer is best understood within the context of
the music in which it is to be played. A good way to learn about synthesizers
is to listen to records and tapes of other synthesizer players, to go to concerts
of electronic music and to read books available on the subject. In the
beginning imitation is a good idea so that one can learn what is considered
good standard practice, what is fresh and new, and what is a cliché.
The Voltage Controlled Modular Electronic Music Synthesizer (the
instrument's full name) exists in two worlds at the same time: the world of
electronics and the world of sound. Although the objective is to produce
music, a little of both these worlds must be conquered to be able to use the
synthesizer to its full potential. This is because, as will be explained in more
detail later, the synthesizer is not really one instrument, but rather, an
assembly of smaller ones (modules) which can be hooked together (patched)
to create many different larger instruments. The synthesizer player really is, in
part, an instrument builder, and just as an electronic organ designer must
know something about electronics, acoustics and music, so must a good
synthesizer player.
