First use of Moog synthesizer in film scores

[thetalkinghead]

lord i love my minimoog

[gordonmerrick]

Originally Posted by sync24

this was my intention with the following blog:
electronic music in film
but work and life commitments have got in the way

it'd be great to tie these things together somehow, like with a bunch of contributors... anyone got any suggestions?

It's a significant amount of work--I think a place like GS could pull off a really inclusive/impressive pile of raw data, but sorting through and contextualizing, organizing, etc. is a slog. No one wants to do that for free.

Recently I published a book chapter that tries to start sorting through the history, but it's pretty limited in its scope given space constraints... A solid online resource would be way better...

(Book/essay here--the title is wrong in the online catalog, but it's the 'The Synthesizer' bit: Sound and Music in Film and Visual Media - Continuum -- Not self promoting, promise--see the cost on that book? You could get a STG Sea Devils filter for that price.)

[gordonmerrick]

Originally Posted by sync24

this was my intention with the following blog:
electronic music in film
but work and life commitments have got in the way

it'd be great to tie these things together somehow, like with a bunch of contributors... anyone got any suggestions?

oh, and cool blog btw. you should keep it going, if you can.

[sync24]

Originally Posted by gordonmerrick

It's a significant amount of work--I think a place like GS could pull off a really inclusive/impressive pile of raw data, but sorting through and contextualizing, organizing, etc. is a slog. No one wants to do that for free.

Recently I published a book chapter that tries to start sorting through the history, but it's pretty limited in its scope given space constraints... A solid online resource would be way better...

(Book/essay here--the title is wrong in the online catalog, but it's the 'The Synthesizer' bit: Sound and Music in Film and Visual Media - Continuum -- Not self promoting, promise--see the cost on that book? You could get a STG Sea Devils filter for that price.)

hi,

thanks for the response, i will get back on this project; work/teaching commitments kick in next month so my time is structured again - i might be able to fit this in again...!
i think i'll try and stick to UK based films/music for now though, due to certain links and in-roads i have

the book you've contributed to looks pretty epic!
i might try and get my work-library to buy it...

cheers

[BrianK]

Just checked with Herb Deutsch and his synth was not used for Jarre's film in 1965. There were only a small handful even made by then (Siday, Carlos, etc) but not easily used or rented. I think Maurice Jarre was West Coast for that, and I'm not sure if Paul Beaver even got his synth until 1966 or 67. So something's tricky about the timing/accuracy of these reports...

[Teknobeam]

Originally Posted by mikael488

I haven't managed to find any info on the Persuaders synth, but I'm pretty sure that bassline was played on a Moog modular. The TV-series first aired in Sep 1971 so, in theory at least, it could be a Minimoog.

Lalo Schifrin's theme to TV-series MEDICAL CENTER also used a Moog modular (programmed by Paul Beaver as usual) so I'll add that one to the list.

Schifrin's theme (rec. in Sep 1970) was introduced during the second season and used as the opening credit sequence theme thereafter.

SHifrin was very solid composer in that era. he did a lot of the Clint magnum force stuff,, and Bullet with steve mcqueen. it was very 70ès sounding but did the job perfectly. He experienced a very busy and successful career producing commissioned music.

[Teknobeam]

John Carpenter.....assault on Precinct 13.... that one had an impact on me at a very early age. lots of original Moog there.

[Teknobeam]

Originally Posted by Sharp11

Bernard Hermann used two Moogs and a string orchestra for the 1973 thriller "Sisters".

When I was hired to score the remake in 2006, my co-composer, David Kristian, picked up an old Moog (I forget which one) and we used it sparingly to make reference to the original - it worked out well.

We ended up with a 70's sort of synth and effects sound throughout the movie.

Ed

Hermann is a genius...

[asbak]

It's slightly late according to the criteria but how about Goblin's Profondo Rosso Soundtrack from 1975?

[mikael488]

Originally Posted by BrianK

Just checked with Herb Deutsch and his synth was not used for Jarre's film in 1965. There were only a small handful even made by then (Siday, Carlos, etc) but not easily used or rented. I think Maurice Jarre was West Coast for that, and I'm not sure if Paul Beaver even got his synth until 1966 or 67. So something's tricky about the timing/accuracy of these reports...

Strange! I'm sure I've read in an interview with Jarre senior that a prototype Moog was used in that score (maybe it was Walter Sear's or Siday's instrument, I don't know?). I guess it really doesn't matter though because the synth is not "featured" in the score, in fact you'd be hard pressed to distinguish any synth whatsover in Jarre's soundtrack.

Paul Beaver did indeed have the first Moog on the West coast but that wasn't until 1966 or early 1967.

[mikael488]

Originally Posted by Teknobeam

John Carpenter.....assault on Precinct 13.... that one had an impact on me at a very early age. lots of original Moog there.

Yeah I love Carpenter's minimalist synth-score. All of the synthesis for the score was done on an expanded custom Moog series III comprising of 5 portable box units. Dan Wyman's Moog was equipped with both 901 and 921 ocillators at the time (mid '70s).

From what I understand, Wyman/Sound Arts inherited Paul Beaver's old Moog after he passed away back in Jan 1975. The studio itself, re-named Sound Arts by Wyman & Co., previously belonged to Paul Beaver.

[mikael488]

Originally Posted by asbak

It's slightly late according to the criteria but how about Goblin's Profondo Rosso Soundtrack from 1975?

Yep, Claudio Simonetti played the Minimoog on that score (rec. in early '75). A couple years later, they hired a Moog 55 for the Suspiria soundtrack (which is Goblin's best score IMO).

[Teknobeam]

Originally Posted by mikael488

Yeah I love Carpenter's minimalist synth-score. All of the synthesis for the score was done on an expanded custom Moog series III comprising of 5 portable box units. Dan Wyman's Moog was equipped with both 901 and 921 ocillators at the time (mid '70s).

From what I understand, Wyman/Sound Arts inherited Paul Beaver's old Moog after he passed away back in Jan 1975. The studio itself, re-named Sound Arts by Wyman & Co., previously belonged to Paul Beaver.

Mikael, thanks for that information. I didn't know which Moog gear was used in that film. Now I can envision it. Yes, his score was very minimal, with two main and very different themes (the Moog stuff, and the electric piano stuff). Somehow very memorable and sylistic. A real gem.

[Franc]

Originally Posted by mikael488

Yes, definitely Moog modular on that one.

I really enjoyed the Synth Britania documentary that was posted on YouTube. Many of the groups talked about three big influences:

1. Wendy/Walter Carlos - Clockwork - Moog Modular
2. Kraftwerk - Autobahn (to start) - Mini Moog plus the ARP Odyessy but it was really the Moog bass.
3. Giorgio Moroder - I Feel Love - Moog Modular - The Human League were huge fans.

A bit later it was Numan - who used during his best stuff mainly a Mini Moog and PolyMoog (Vox Humana). He used JP4s and JP8s later but mainly Moogs.

I got off the point. Maybe some movies used Moogs earlier but it was really Clockwork where it was used properly. I still think Carlos work on that and Switched On was staggering. Not the earliest but arguably the best.

[mikael488]

Originally Posted by Teknobeam

Mikael, thanks for that information. I didn't know which Moog gear was used in that film. Now I can envision it. Yes, his score was very minimal, with two main and very different themes (the Moog stuff, and the electric piano stuff). Somehow very memorable and sylistic. A real gem.

You're welcome

Carpenter & Wyman also used the Moog modular on Halloween (1978) and The Fog (1980).