Further Listening

The Sub Rosa label released multiple volumes of compilation records entitled An Anthology of Noise & Electronic Music which provide a really interesting overview of electronic music across the 20th century. Each release is curated and pulls together a wide range of different pieces, from historical works by Luigi Russolo and John Cage, to pieces by more modern artists who acknowledge a direct influence from these early pioneers, such as DJ Spooky and Sonic Youth. Definitely worth checking out any of these releases – most are on Spotify or other streaming services, and so are pretty easy to find.

Otherwise, here are a few different works that I’d recommend checking out. Many of these aren’t as hard-line or foundational to the experience of electronic music as those we’ve used for the listening this week, but they’re all genuinely interesting pieces to listen to.

• Louis & Bebe Barron: Forbidden Planet (1956)
• Iannis Xenakis: Concret PH (1958)
• Edgard Varèse: Poème Electronique (1958)
• Morton Subotnick: Silver Apples of the Moon (1967)
• Pauline Oliveros: Bye Bye Butterfly (1967)
• David Tudor & Gordon Mumma: Rainforrest (1968)
• Luigi Nono: …Sofferte onde serene (1976)
• Robert Ashley: Automatic Writing (1979)