Main content

The Synthesizer. Hannah Peel, Peter Zinovieff

Tom Service investigates the rise of the synthesizer, an initially crude assemblage of electrical components that became one of the most ubiquitous musical instruments.

Tom Service investigates the rise of the synthesizer. How did this initially crude assemblage of electrical components develop in a few decades to become one of the most ubiquitous and flexible of musical instruments? He consults Peter Zinovieff, inventor of the first British commercially available synthesizer (the VCS3, made in his garden shed in Putney); and also young composer/performer Hannah Peel, who likes to work with the sound of vintage analogue synths.

Available now

29 minutes

Last on

Fri 28 May 2021 16:30
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Shostakovich's Symphony No 15

Next

Pranked!

See all episodes from The Listening Service

Clips

See all clips from The Synthesizer. Hannah Peel, Peter Zinovieff (2)

Music Played

  • Herbert Eimert

    Klangstudie II

    Performer: Herbert Eimert.
    • OHM+: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music: 1948-1980.
    • ellipsis arts.

  • Richard Maxfield

    Sine Music

    Performer: Richard Maxfield.
    • OHM+: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music: 1948-1980.
    • ellipsis arts.

  • Hannah Peel

    Life is on the Horizon

    Performer: Hannah Peel.
    • Mary Casio: Journey To Cassiopeia.
    • My Own Pleasure.

  • Harold Faltermeyer

    Axel F

    • Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack "Beverly Hills Cop".
    • MCA Records.

  • Gary Numan

    Cars

    • The Best Of Gary Numan 1978 - 1983.
    • Beggars Banquet.

  • Vangelis

    Deckard and Roy's Duel (from Bladerunner)

    • Blade Runner.
    • EastWest.

  • Unknown

    VCS3 Sound Demo

    • Freesound.org.

  • Unknown

    Theremin Sound Demo

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Valse sentimentale

    Performer: Clara Rockmore (theremin).
    • OHM+: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music: 1948-1980.
    • ellipsis arts.

  • Harald Genzmer

    Concerto for Trautonium & Orchestra

    Performer: Oskar Sala. Performer: Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Bremen. Performer: Siegfried Goslich.
    • Wergo.

  • Paul Hindemith

    Concertpiece for trautonium & strings

    Performer: Oskar Sala. Performer: MΓΌnchener Kammerorchester. Performer: Hans Stadlmair.
    • APEX.

  • Olivier Messiaen

    Oraison

    Performer: Ensemble d’ondes de MontrΓ©al.
    • OHM+: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music: 1948-1980.
    • ellipsis arts.

  • Olivier Messiaen

    Turnagalila: Joy of the Blood of the Stars

    Performer: Jeanne Loriod. Performer: Orchestre national de France. Performer: Maurice Le Roux.
    • Messiaen - The First Recordings (1956-1963).
    • Accord.

  • Hawkwind

    Silver Machine

    • Masters Of Rock.
    • EMI β€Ž.

  • Unknown

    Minimoog Sound Demo

  • Kraftwerk

    Autobahn

    • Autobahn.
    • Mute.

  • Michael Jackson

    Thriller

    • Thriller.
    • Epic.
    • 4.

  • John Williams

    Star Wars theme

    Performer: Electric Moog Orchestra.
    • The Electric Moog Orchestra - Music From Star Wars.
    • Musicor Records.

  • Hannah Peel

    WASP Demo

    Performer: Hannah Peel.

  • Depeche Mode

    Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro mix)

    • Never Let Me Down Again.
    • Mute.

  • Enya

    The Celts

    • The Celts.
    • WEA.

  • Frank Zappa

    G Spot tornado

    Performer: Frank Zappa.
    • Jazz from Hell.
    • ZAPPA.

  • Pierre Boulez

    Repons

    Performer: Ensemble intercontemporain. Performer: Pierre Boulez.
    • RΓ©pons / Dialogue de l'Ombre Double.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Hannah Peel

    Sunrise Through the Dusty Nebula

    Performer: Hannah Peel.
    • Mary Casio: Journey To Cassiopeia.
    • My Own Pleasure.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 12 Nov 2017 17:00
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
  • Sun 23 May 2021 17:00
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
  • Fri 28 May 2021 16:30
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

Why do we call it 'classical' music?

Tom Service poses a very simple question (with a not-so-simple answer).

Six of the world's most extreme voices

From babies to Mongolian throat singers: whose voice is the most extreme of all?

How did the number 12 revolutionise music?

How did the number 12 revolutionise music?

How Schoenberg opened a new cosmos for composers and listeners to explore.

Why are we all addicted to bass?

Why are we all addicted to bass?

Bass is everywhere, but why do we enjoy it? Join Tom Service on a journey of discovery.

Watch the animations

Join Tom Service on a musical journey through beginnings, repetition and bass lines.

When does noise become music?

We like to think we can separate β€œnoise” from β€œmusic”, but is it that simple?

Podcast