When we talk about electronic music today, we often think of genres like EDM, trap, house, dubstep, techno, as well as DJs and various popular music styles. However, electronic music has a broader meaning and exists in many aspects of our lives.
Electronic music involves generating sound through circuits powered by electricity and creating compositions with these sounds. The advancement of technology and inventions of new instruments have influenced not only electronic music styles but also various acoustic music genres such as rock, jazz, RnB, reggae, funk, soul, disco, and classical music. When we consider music's branches, we find various film scores, sound effects, sound design, video game music, commercials, phone ringtones, doorbells, and everyday devices like cars, planes, refrigerators, sometimes presenting as music, melodies, or meaningful signals. Today, technology has significantly enriched music, shaping it in various ways. We can now record and listen to acoustic classical music through electronic devices. In fact, these developments have evolved over time with the discovery of electricity, the advancement of technology and science, shaping designs produced for music, and new musical approaches resulting from these designs, evolving in parallel and continually influencing each other.
Electronic music is the name given to music created using electronic instruments. These instruments operate on low-voltage systems and utilize components such as transistors, capacitors, and integrated circuits. They are fundamentally divided into two categories: electromechanical instruments and electronic instruments. Examples of electromechanical instruments include the Telharmonium, Hammond B3 organ, Rhodes piano, and electric guitar, where sound production involves mechanical elements like springs, power amplifiers, and speakers. In contrast, electronic instruments like the Theremin, synthesizers, and computer-based systems are designed to generate sounds directly from electrical signals.
Let's take a look at the first examples and instruments of electronic music. It all began in the late 19th century. The earliest electronic music experiments were observed in Italy. These compositions were primarily focused on producing experimental sounds rather than tonal melodies. The initial instrument inventions during this period were never sold but instead used in various public demonstrations.
In the late 19th century, the mechanical phonograph was invented. It was a significant method for recording and reproducing sound, and by 1920, composers began to use it. This technology was also adopted in films, offering the capability to alter films graphically. Examples of various films and film music using these techniques were seen in countries like Germany, America, and Russia.
As we approach the 1940s, various compositions began to be created by manipulating recorded tapes, altering their directions and speeds in different ways. One of the most famous examples of this style, known as Musique Concrète, developed in France. The first practical recording devices were invented by the Germans. Following the immediate aftermath of World War I, these innovations were brought to America, where production began for the first time.
One of the most important early examples of these instruments is the Telharmonium, also known as the Dynamo-phone, invented in America. The inventor of the instrument, Thaddeus Cahill, first used the term "synthesis" in the form he filled out for the patent. Only three of these instruments were ever produced. The heaviest weighed around 200 tons and had the ability to connect to telephone lines. Because of this, they envisioned distributing music made on these instruments to places like hotels and restaurants, where they could sell and deliver music through a subscription system, leading to significant investments in this endeavor. The Telharmonium is an additive synthesis instrument.
The Theremin, known in history as Leon Theremin in the Western world, was invented by the Russian physicist Lev Sergeivich in 1919. It is among the earliest instruments ever produced and undoubtedly one of the most successful. The Theremin originated as a product of a research project supported by the Russian government. However, it was later taken to America by Leon Theremin himself and patented in 1928. In the following years, the commercial rights were transferred to the RCA company. While records suggest around 500 instruments were produced under the RCA name, they were actually manufactured by General Electric and Westinghouse. Approximately 850 Theremins were estimated to have been sold, with roughly half of them believed to still exist and be in use today. The Theremin is historically significant as the first and only instrument that is played without physical contact. The renowned synthesizer company Moog, founded in 1953, also developed and sold its own Theremin design during this period. Other examples of similar instruments from that era include the Electro-Theremin, also known as the Tannerin, and the Trautonium.
With the emergence of many new trends and electronic musical instruments, musicians initially preferred not only to create new compositions but also to reinterpret old and classical pieces using these instruments. In later years, the idea of creating new music and compositions with these instruments gradually gained more popularity.
Inspired by the Telharmonium, efforts began in 1935 to create a more modern version, resulting in the invention of the Hammond organ. The Hammond is an additive instrument, shaping sound by adding harmonic degrees over a fundamental frequency. Initially seen as a cost-effective alternative for church organs, the Hammond quickly gained popularity among jazz and blues musicians. In later years, it was extensively used by rock bands such as Deep Purple, The Allman Brothers Band, Pink Floyd, and Yes.
The first music composed solely with electronic generators and published as a new composition was created by Karlheinz Stockhausen in Germany in 1953. Stockhausen composed and recorded Studie I in 1953 and Elektronische Studie II in 1954, which were then published. By 1955, more experimental electronic studios began to emerge. Between 1950 and 1953, the concept of making electronic music had rapidly spread to Japan and America. In 1950, one of the most significant developments was the invention of the first computer designed for producing and composing music, leading to the creation of the first algorithmic music with a computer. Algorithmic music without computers had been used by various composers before this, with notable examples such as W.A. Mozart's Musikalisches Würfelspiel.
During this period, electronic music studios were being established and research and experiments were initiated in Japan and Germany. In Japan, the first studio was founded where highly modern circuits were designed, and specialized sine wave generators, ring modulators, and band-pass filters were designed and utilized. In America, the establishment of the Columbia-Princeton Center similarly held great significance.
Voltage-controlled synthesizers, which have significantly influenced today's music, emerged in the 1960s as modular systems. The most prominent pioneers of these systems were Arthur Robert Moog and Don Buchla. Additionally, companies like Syn-Ket and Arp contributed to this field. However, Moog and Buchla continued to innovate and shape music until around the 2010s. Moog gained renown for subtractive synthesis, whereas Buchla focused on additive synthesis. Buchla's designs, which ventured into unconventional approaches beyond traditional keyboard-based music production, were appreciated much later, emphasizing their value. Therefore, Moog remains more widely recognized as the analog synth company that everyone first learns about. During this era, the Moog Modular synthesizer was the first to be commercially available. Wendy Carlos's recorded album 'Switched-on Bach' stands as one of the most important recordings in history.
One of the most significant developments began in the 1950s in Japan with the idea of producing drum machines, starting with Ace Tone's R-1 Rhythm Ace. Later designs like Yamaha Electone and Korg Mini Pops in the 1960s paved the way for the production of various other drum machines that would eventually dominate the entire popular music world. At Ace Tone, Kakehashi, who designed these drum machines, later left the company and founded Roland Corporation. His drum machines truly shaped modern music to a significant extent. The Roland TR-808 and TR-909 are among the most famous examples. Following these developments in Japan in the 1970s, the Technics SL-1100 and SL-1200 turntables emerged, giving rise to turntablism music, and these turntable designs are still used today.
In the 1960s, Dub music, which originated in Jamaica, was among the first popular examples of electronic music. During this period, examples from rock bands like The Beatles and The Beach Boys can be cited. In the 1970s, bands such as Pink Floyd, Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Genesis were prominent. In Europe, notable groups included Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Can, and Faust. By the mid-1970s, we can also mention names like Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis, Tomita, and Klaus Schulze.
In the 1970s, monophonic voltage-controlled synthesizers became more compact, portable, and performance-oriented with keyboard interfaces, increasing their popularity. One of the most significant among them was the Moog Minimoog Model D. During this period, twelve important companies began producing synthesizers, including Moog (USA), Sequential Circuits (USA), Arp (USA), Oberheim (USA), Roland (Japan), E-MU (USA), Korg (Japan), EMS (UK), and Yamaha (Japan).
In the mid-1970s, there was a shift towards polyphonic synthesizer designs. Moog introduced the Polymoog model in 1975. Sequential Circuits brought together companies producing synthesizers related to MIDI, which continues to be an indispensable protocol in today's digital instruments, adapted to formats like USB and Firewire. After decades, the first major MIDI upgrade, MIDI 2.0, arrived in 2020.
During the 1980s, advancements in digital technology led to hybrid analog-digital designs capable of saving patches. One of the most famous examples, the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, was widely used by groups such as David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Rick Wakeman of Genesis, No Doubt, Jean-Michel Jarre, The Prodigy, Radiohead, and Eurythmics.
In the 1980s, the first digital synthesizers were developed, including notable examples like the Yamaha GS1 and Yamaha DX7. Roland's famous designs such as the TB-303, TR-808, and TR-909 were also produced around this time. These three machines have analog signal paths with digital step sequencers, allowing users to program and save patterns. The TR-909, in particular, uses digital sampling for some of its cymbal and hi-hat channels, creating a hybrid design that achieves more natural cymbal sounds. These instruments, which played a crucial role in the birth of acid house, dance music, and hip-hop genres, served as inspirations for many musical groups.
The 1980s marked a period of digital hardware designs and MIDI development alongside the evolving capabilities of computers. In 1983, despite facing various commercial challenges, Apple released the Lisa model. Due to the poor converters of computers at the time, this era became essential for the distinctive sound of Chiptunes. It's worth noting that Lisa was also the first personal computer sold with a graphical user interface (GUI), enabling users to interact through windows, icons, and menus. A year later, Apple introduced the more affordable and faster Macintosh model, famously promoted through Ridley Scott's advertisement.
During this period, the Commodore 64 and Steinberg's 16-channel sequencer software represented significant advancements. In the same year, Digidesign was founded in California. They released the first Softsynth FM synthesizer software for Atari and Mac. In 1987, the German company Motu launched the first music program for computers named Performer. Steinberg followed up with Cubase software in 1990, initially for Mac after Atari. Digidesign released Protools in 1991, providing multitrack recording and mixing capabilities.
In the 1990s, digital technology continued to rapidly advance, leading to the emergence of various synthesis techniques and synthesizer designs capable of implementing them. Physical Modeling synthesis techniques began to produce much more realistic instrument imitations. In 1996, Steinberg's introduction of the VST (Virtual Studio Technology) concept sparked incredible activity in the PC world, with many small software firms starting to develop plug-in style effects and instrument software.
In the 1990s, electronic dance music became extremely popular. Today, abbreviated as EDM (Electronic Dance Music), this genre has influenced mainstream music and nightlife. Famous electronic music festivals such as Electric Daisy Carnival, TomorrowLand Festival, and Ultra Music Festival were born during this period. The introduction of the CD format in these years was also a significant development in the industry.
As we entered the 21st century, digital technology, computers, software, and software synthesizers had become the core of this music. Computers had advanced and sped up, becoming essential instruments not only in studios but also in live performances. With the acceleration of the internet and access, information spread much faster. During this period, a style known as Chiptunes emerged, involving circuit bending—repairing tools, understanding their calibrations, grasping more complex sound synthesis, and even upgrading circuits or altering the signal flow of toys to add different functions within music, marking the beginning of Circuit Bending. Famous examples include the Atari Punk Console, Dub Siren, and Speak and Spells.
In the 1990s, there was a sentiment among people to discard their cumbersome synthesizers and drum machines in favor of organized, powerful, computer-based systems. During this period, these old hardware units were sold in second-hand markets at very cheap prices, sometimes even below their actual value. However, as we entered the 2000s, there was a curious resurgence in the value of these instruments. In these years, in 1996, Dieter Doepfer founded Doepfer Musikelektronik in Germany, introducing their own power supply and the 3U Eurorack rack system. Its popularity grew steadily until 2020, and between 2015 and 2020, there was significant growth in synthesizer sales. Over 470 companies now produce module designs for this rack format, totaling more than 7000 module designs. The Eurorack format, with its much smaller and sleeker design compared to older systems, also distinguishes itself with its 3.5mm jack layout. In the last 11-12 years, all significant vintage synthesizer and drum machine designs have been either cloned, adapted, or developed into enhanced versions using today's technology and materials.
While these developments were unfolding globally, Turkey also saw the emergence of many artists and electronic music instrument manufacturers. Although the country did not shape the history of electronic music significantly, there were several successful initiatives. For instance, notable figures include Bülent Arel, İlhan Mimaroğlu, and Mehmet Aktuğ. Bülent Arel went to New York in 1959 with a Rockefeller scholarship. Due to his knowledge and experience, he became one of the leading figures in the establishment of the renowned Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center. He returned to Turkey from the USA in 1962 and sought to impart all his knowledge and experience to his country and its people. While serving as the Director of Ankara Radio between 1962 and onwards, he also continued teaching at the conservatory and Gazi Education Institute. One of his most significant initiatives was his effort to establish an electronic music center at the Middle East Technical University, although he faced challenges in receiving support from Turkey. Ultimately, due to the lack of support and facing pressure, like many other talented individuals, he was forced to leave his country again and returned to the USA to continue his work there. Even today, considering the development of electricity and technology, I believe his departure was a significant loss for our country. İlhan Mimaroğlu also went to the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center during these years with a Rockefeller scholarship, where he conducted numerous music and composition studies.
Moreover, looking at the past 30-40 years in our country, we have seen the emergence of many manufacturers producing software, stompbox guitar pedals, rack hardware sound processing units, amplifiers, studio monitors, electric guitars, and various other instruments and equipment, both domestically and globally. It's also worth noting that electronic sounds have been used to create music across various genres, from pop and electronic music to classical music.
Let's produce more, read more, research more, tell more, and share more.
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