I grew up in the 80s with synth music being hugely influential. Kraftwerk and Ultravox were my first experiences of electronic music along with the seminal Tron soundtrack. Wendy was a true trailblazer is so many ways and we owe much to her for the music that came after.
Well your "history" professor is bogus. This is Walter Carlos and anybody who says it isn't has a political agenda. Too bad you paid all that money for a bogus education. Cheers
Finally, someone making a video about her. There aren't many of them on RU-vid, unfortunately. Great video. Her great infuence on other artists is also overlook. Jean-Michel Jarre once said that her Clockwork Orange soundtrack was one of the most important things in his life, shaping his views on music and we know how JMJ popularized electronic music with his Oxygene album.
5:50 I would cut Brian Eno some slack. From his perspective he got hit by a car and suffered a hallucinatory state while hospitalized where painkillers merged the classical music playing in the background merged together and he had an epiphany about the conceptual framework of ambient music. I think that anecdote might have more to do with why he is credited with the creation than any plot against Wendy Carlos. Also, Erik Satie had the same conceptual epiphany with his "Furniture Music" thesis in 1917, so I wouldn't say the genesis for ambient music really started with Carlos anyways. Sonic Seasonings is a masterpiece regardless, it's really grown on me over the years and it does not need to be the first of anything to be intrinsically wonderful.
Absolutely agree! My cheeky comment was meant to be more a tease than a serious commentary. I do feel that Carlos deserves more credit than she's gotten, but not that Eno has gotten any more than he deserves. And yes, a genre pretty much never starts with a single person (and I love Satie, a true freak in the best way).
hey everyone! due to a recent wave of transphobic comments, there is now a Sounds Good mod team. if you see a transphobic or inappropriate comment, smash that report button so we can get it off of here as quickly as possible. thanks to all the non-trolls for your very nice comments! they're much appreciated.
It’s sick what the world has turned into pre, and especially post~Moron Trump. I am glad that music is something that everyone can participate in no matter of gender or choice there after!
Wendy is such an important figure in the development of western music yet she's relatively unknown to general audiences. She isn't even mentioned in many courses on 20th century music or even electronic music(!). Thank you for also talking about her transgender identity, which has meant a great deal for awareness.
Part of the problem was that the academic types in University in the 70's, 1st looked at her commercial success and decided she just reproduced Bach, (like it was just a commercial formula) and wasn't a serious composer, because she wasn't inscrutably inaccessible enough.
This is primarily due to 1) her being in total seclusion for 20 years, and 2) the fact that her entire catalog of her own music, post 1985, has been out of print for 20 years as well.
The first LP I bought as a teen was the Switched-on Bach album. What I noticed with the few videos of her talking about her work is the ease of language she uses to describe the things she does to change and refine sound. No pomposity, no coy mystique- just plain language, very easy to grasp. She did a lot to launch my own interest in electronics, and although my career went in a different direction, her work has often been in the background of my studies. Thank you for this overview of her incredible genius.
calling me "bud" implies that you are my friend! Also a very sexist remark. No ,deadnaming is calling him by a name that is NOT on his record.s If you can read, then it is plain to see. But plain is probably very difficult for you. Cheers@@sola_is_chilling
@@moogfooger Wendy Carlos is her name, you have no idea what you're talking about. Even if we went with your absolutely ridiculous definition of 'deadnaming' what is on her record has been 'Wendy Carlos' for 60 years.
Never heard the name Wendy Carlos until today - the video of her demonstrating the Moog synthesizer. I admit it was those mutton chops that caught my eye 😄, but then I saw this video recommended, and wow: Clockwork, Shining AND Tron. I had no idea. Quite the pleasant discovery, and thank you for the video essay into her contributions, her creations, her struggles, and her right to be recognized.
Same here. Just heard of her though YT. Also, I lived near the MOOG factory and would ride my bike to the factory and look through their dumpsters for their electronics waste. And yes, those mutton chops were striking. MOOG was related to the founder of MOOG aerospace which is still thriving in the Western Ny area.
Thanks for this video. I have been a fan since SOB and have a vinyl copy with "Walter Carlos" as the artist.When I saw Clockwork Orange at the Cinema when it came out I was disappointed that only part of her compositions were included, but I have that on vinyl, too. I never really understood the emphasis on gender as I was so in awe of her music (although I don't share her love of cats :-( ). The joy of getting the remastered boxed set in 2001 I'll never forget. It is so precious and hearing her explanation of the many techniques used are fascinating. I think her contribution to music is understated and its probably that most of the people she influenced have passed (too many drugs) there remains an audience for her music. I cant say how many times I have listened to SOB and the remastered version is staggerringly awesome. It would have been tedious to make but to me is a masterpiece. Thanks for this video. I learnt a lot. I am let's say "old school" and don't focus on gender like so many. I respect that you have had many struggles, but like Wendy, be your self and produce awesome music or entertainment. I enjoyed this video and particularly appreciate your respect for one of the icons of electronic music.
Glad to read the words of a soulmate. I'm going to be looking out for that box set you mentioned. I still have the cassette of Switched on Bach- bought in 1984. I just wonder what the remastered version sounds like. I'm glad I came here; there's always so much to learn.
@@musamor75 I am not sure it is available. I bought from Amazon back in the day but now you have to go to Wendy's website.www.wendycarlos.com/discs.html
@@bricaaron3978 The title of the YT video focuses on gender "Wendy Carlos | Women In Electronic Music". Which is a bit ironic when citing historical accomplishments of particular genders.
Wendy Carlos is a genius and a legend. Her visions and inventions complete changed the music landscape and without her, music would be very different today.
I got interested in synths from ELP first, then all the rock bands including the Beatles, and then finally late bumped into Wendy. That was the pinnacle and still is. This vid left out Vlads contribution of the envelope control. Now that was a marvelous manipulation of a note, Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release. That is where Wendy shines. Along with the colors and timbre. I could care less what Wendy does to her body her mind is sharp and she is free to live with all of us screwed up people and just fit in no matter where she fits in on the mess of humanity. Everyone is OK in my eyes unless you are a murderer. She is intelligent and a great composer from the discs and vinyl that I was lucky to aquire. And sorry Wendy but I did get more into baroque music after hearing Scarlatti and the rest. Thanks for the painstaking work with the monophonic synth. Impeccable results are appreciated.
I first heard oxygene and equinox when I was about 12-13. I'm now 48. I've been into electronic music all the way since then, although my horizons have broadened to rock from zeppelin through to clutch, and the djent style of Meshuggah. Tonight is the first night I heard of Wendy Carlos. Thanks.
I'm also big fan of Jean Michel, Mike Oldfield, Pink Floyd, since I was 8-10 years old. I'm 45 now and it was also the first time I heard about Wendy Carlos! It's ridiculous! I'm baffled. Of course I've seen Clockwork Orange and probably the original Tron too, but somehow very few film soundtracks were popularized back then in Hungary. Jesus Christ Superstar was one, which I've listened to the most, auntie. :) Thank you, @SoundsGood for this wonderful video and all the research behind it!
The first copy of S-OB I purchased in vinyl listed it by Walter Carlos. "He" was featured in an article in a scholastic books article in my clessroom in the mid 60s. That is how much Wendy has been a part of my musical life. I am always upset when other pieces about influential Trans individuals completely ignore Ms. Carlos. I am a cis man whose life was enriched by this amazing woman. Thank you for such a wonderful piece grounded in her technical and musical contributions, rather than her gender.
It is actually the trans bunch that are so into Walter Carlos's gender. Just look at all the comments here! Ever wonder why Carlos has not endorsed the transvestite community? Cause he does not want anything to do with you all. Cheers
Thank you for your video. I "knew" Wendy Carlos back in 1982, I was a teen ager (I am from 1968), when I watched TRON at the theater. In time I might have forgotten most of the movie itself, but not the soundtrack. After a few decades, I managed to rerun the movie many times, and of course, listen to her awesome soundtrack countless times, thanks to computers in our homes. So, again, thank you for this video. Be well.
I bought switched on Bach when I was about 12 it was simply brilliant along with Tomita, I didn't see a clockwork orange as I was far too young at the time but I could instantly here the sound of Carloss when Tron arrived, the makers were Disney so I wouldn't have bothered but the soundtrack was instantly recognisable and just makes the film Wendy is always someone that I would love to meet and say thanks for pushing electronic music 🙂
I fantasize about Wendy listening to a few early SOPHIE tracks and hearing her comment about the sounds and tones….sort of a look at where production has evolved to. Would be sooo fascinating.
Thank you so much! It's insane how under appreciated Wendy Carlos STILL is. For some reason non of her music is online. And why hasn't the older albums been reissued. And more importantly, where are those hours and hours of music, that weren't used by Kubrick in C.O. and Shining. I pray that the world won't get robbed of that hidden treasure and one day we all will be able to enjoy it.
@@thenumbdave thank you for the reply. The thing is, apparently Wendy Carlos recorded hours and hours of music. Yet, like only 1% of it ended up in the movies "The Shining" and "Clockwork Orange". In this video, she briefly mentions this and some kind of rights dispute. It's so frustrating that not only was this music not used, but it's been shelved away for over 40 years now and no one has access to it.
@@thenumbdave That's exactly what I'm saying! And the sad thing is that, sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who's even asking these questions. It's surprising, because Wendy Carlos is arguably the most important electronic musician of the 20th Century (at least in US) and .... argh. At least, this show kind of implies on it.
Hi friend, I use the translator. Telling all around about Wendy, it was really a discovery for me, I discovered her out of love for another performer "desert sand feels warm at night" I like it to crazy, and in his comments someone compared him with Wendy, so I found out, your video by the way is the only thing you can find about her on youtube, at least from Russia.
I took Electronic Music Composition at the Univ of Utah in the early 70’s with Vladimir Ussevchevsky. It was a great time, Bob Moog visited once as he was working on the Moog Envelope Generator with Vladimir. We saw the prototype modules in the music lab. Splicing tape on Ampex 440’s to create “Music Concrete” was interesting.
@@Geopholus I took the class because I was in electrical engineering and was interested in music synthesizers. I didn’t realize how involved the class was. Many late nights in the Univ of Utah music building.. it was the toughest B grade I ever achieved.
@@oakpal Have you continued with interest in electronic music and synthesizers? Or the immersive experience was enough to emerge from? My brother and i went to see Vladimir Ussachevsky give a lecture at University of Bridgeport in the early 1960's and got hooked when we were still kids. i was thankful, that at that time the process was laborious but pretty straightforward... well sorta hahahaha. No synthesizers available , but i built a simple Morse code oscillator or 6.
Fantastic video. I remember when Switched on Bach came out. I was in High School then and it was a major breakthrough. Keep on Rockin in the free work. Thank You for this video. mVm
Thanks for posting this. In the late 70s to mid 80s, I was immersed in designing and constructing my own analog synth engine modules, causing audio mayhem, and even some recording . . . much inspired by Wendy and other early pioneers into this musical terrain.
Thanks for recommending "Beauty in the Beast"-I was able to find an iffy digital copy and had ordered the vinyl from Discogs before the second track had ended!
I have not seen it mentioned here, but for those who have sat on the warm evening pavement at Disneyland (later World) and enjoyed the Main Street Electrical Parade, you can also thank Wendy Carlos for that epic music. Such a masterpeice that made the parade what it was.
I know this is an old video now, but I just wanted to say that Carlos is definitely a favorite of mine. Mostly because she pioneered a of the techno music that we here today
"Beauty in the Beast" is definitely my favorite WC album. It's so intricate and alien, but seems strangely natural. We had a couple of brief but interesting correspondences a few years ago about how synth tech seems to have gone backwards in more recent years, as well as surround sound in the modern era; a very cool person indeed.
Funny, I was listening to Wendy Carlos's Timesteps (the complete version) and Country Lane again the other day. As an electronic music maker myself, I have been fascinated by Wendy's work all my life. Of course, I love her interpretations of Baroque music - her Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 is very powerful - particularly the third movement. However, where Wendy's genius really shines is in her own music. I listened to Timesteps and Country Lane and I was awestruck by the variety of timbres, musical ideas, melodies, daring harmonies and rhythms (particularly in Timesteps) her music. No-one has made music like this before or since to my knowledge. The equipment I use now is vastly more sophisticated, but I could never hope to reach the dizzying heights Wendy Carlos reached her music. Wendy Carlos's music sounds like nothing else, although many have tried! Long live Wendy Carlos!!!
Thanks heaps for pulling all this info together, and presenting it so cogently. I've no doubt that Wendy's place in history will come to be better known. She absolutely shaped decades of sound past, and yet to come. One huge contribution she makes is accessibility - all of us brought up with tinny casiotone keyboards would never have had the experience without her brilliance of invention behind it. And on gender - well people just be people. I hope the world keeps getting easier for everyone who lives with a difference from the majority. Those I know who live true to their own integrity have had to endure such hurdles; real heros!
She did amazing in writing music that really added to the horrific nature of the shining, but the music she wrote for Tron is probably one of the most beautiful soundtracks I’ve heard
Switched on Bach was / is amazing. As a youngster my Dad was good enough to explain to me what we were hearing and how those sounds were made. Sounds that are old hat nowadays were new and captivating then. Big kudos and respect to Wendy Carlos.
This was an amazing video! Brava!!! I learned so much and appreciate the effort you took to present Wendy Carlos in such a concise and eloquent manner. I came across your video doing research on women pioneers in electronic music. It is a pleasure to share this video, since Wendy Carlos was not in the course material presented. Thank you.
Taking note of this excellent video on the ocassion of Wendy Carlos' 84th birthday (born 14 November 1939)! It is interesting that you note her frustration with the prospect of seeing her earlier work and gender identity overshadow her later work.
Wendy Carlos is a pioneer, obviously and most notably, for her innumerable accomplishments and fine artistry in electronic music and synthesis, but also for her beyond courageous stolid determination and uncompromising dedication to being her true Self. Seldom do we see such strength and achievement exhibited in one human being.
Wendy Carlos, Delia Derbyshire, Suzanne Ciani, Laurie Spiegel, Daphne Oram, Clara Rockmore and Bebe Barron are some of the most important women in electronic music. Without their work, their effort, their patience and passion we would not be where we are now. And we, who make electronic music, really stand on their shoulders. I sometimes wonder if Wendy, Suzanne or Laurie secretly watches videos on youtube and reads the comments? At least Laurie Spiegel has her own YT channel :) So it'd be amazing to imagine Wendy being here too.
It's sad for me that that the more traditionalist approach to electronic music that Carlos pioneered is what led Delia Derbyshire , another hero of mine, to abandon music for most of her life. 😢
Wendy is a true master and legend. She’s 83 now but I’d love if someone could find her and do and interview. So many legend are still alive but won’t be for very long.
Brilliant video, you've earned a new subscriber :) The synth queen has been an influence in many ways, I love her web pages about Surround Sound as I'm more of a tech geek than composer ;P
Her surround articles are great. The earlier articles railing against "Matrix quad" and the SQ system specifically, which was the pet of her record company CBS/Columbia are brilliant.
Such a great video and thank you . As a kid I found a tape that my dad had of sonic seasonings and though it was the most amazing sounds ever, a few years back managed to pick up an old copy of SOB shame her catalog isn’t on iTunes
I've often described my interest in Modular Synth as the musical equivalent of the transgirl programmer stereotype, without realizing that one of the biggest contributors was trans herself. This makes me very happy, and I feel very seen.
I would GREATLY appreciate it if Wendy would allow Switched on Bach to be on RU-vid. She has one of the biggest RU-vid blockers for YEARS. In the end, it only hurts her. Most people here will not be able to hear her great work because the album is out of print, and it’s not allowed on any streaming service or RU-vid. It’s a tragedy
I agree ! There are quite a few people who have devoted a lot of time to recreating music in the general style of Wendy Carlos's fabulous Bach recordings. For instance Carey Meltz, Syntesen, Demian , James Pindar, Baroque Noise, Drummelscrud, and precursors to Carlos like Delia Derbyshire. etc etc. We would all like to see some of her original work show up on YT. One can find Switched on Bach, Well Tempered Synthesizer, SOB II and SO Brandenburgs at discogs. I have a collection listed on my YT channel, representing many of the efforts in this vein, (emulators inspired by Wendy or electronic music enthusiasts called SynthOdioBach. Recently YT seems to not promote this collection at all. Great to see and hear Sounds Good! Thanks for the very informative video!
What does Trans have to do with electronic music.... Music on a whole.... sexuality has nothing to do with music but it is true you have to have the female side active to appreciate it.!.
Wonderful as ever! I need to listen to some of Wendy Carlos' music. It looks like only her soundtracks are on Apple Music but I'll find another way. I've been listening to Eve Parker Finley's album lately but I'm going to check out everyone else included in the video too. I got a bit teary eyed with you at the end, it always hits really hard when you learn something else that shows we've always been here, we've always been contributing to life, love and culture and we always will be. Keep up the good work Sarah! x
Great video thanks. In 1982 i was at the EMS studio in Stockholm with an American teacher in electronic music. That was great fun, but also a bit strange world. The composers was not intrested to make electronic music popular, it was fun we had no computers, but we had old taperecorders, and a grandpiano out of tune 🙂 My first synth was a Minimog, thanks Bob. Wendy Carlos is an inspiration and Brian Eno to.
Listening to "Switched On Bach" when I was a kid in the early 70's in the back of my dad's VW bus as we travelled to hike in the mountains of the PNW... Thank you, Wendy!
I've been a fan of electronic music since 1976 and now I stumble upon this video. Great introduction to this wonderful music by this wonderful person. Thx!
YOU! are wonderful! (and I only met you 14 minutes ago!...) I've been interested in electronic music since.... the 70s. Had to go to university to get your hands on one. My first computer was a Commodore 64! So keep doing what you're doing! You do it well! And let young women (and others!) know they can learn more about electronic music production by using Open Source Software. It has finally matured enough to recommend it to anyone wanting to explore what's "out there"... .....SOOOooo.... YOU GO!
Ya but Walter Carlos is not a woman, and the person running this site is probably not either. deep voice and big adams apple. But maybe thats your thing.
Interesting origin story! SOB :} lol It's hard to fight against the stereotype that ones first success comes from... for me it's Star Wars. Great franchise, but it often still defines who "I" am. I also have composed a lot of music that was never released... I also lost ownership of my own music, in an attempt to just make a living as a musician.
thanks so much for making this video (: wendy has been a deep musical love of mine since high school. i loved your choice to have different transfemme voices represent her. "beauty in the beast" is such a singular and complexly beautiful album
@@SoundsGoodChannel i just love those moments when wildly disparate interests overlap - wendy carlos composing gamelan is a huge one for me. philip glass composing for a yukio mishima film is another. i'm gonna watch your video on just intonation because i've read several things about it and still can't seem to wrap my head around the concept fully haha
"Beauty IN the Beast"? Very interesting slip there. It's actually Beaty AND the Beast. Or am I wrong? It was originally a "fantastic" 19th century novel by the French Gilles Perrault- made into a film by Jean Cocteau. The title definitely used "and" (La Belle et la Bête). But Wendy was a genius.
This is great. There needs to be a biopic on this pioneer and innovator. She’s a living legend. But why isn’t her music licensed for streaming on any platform? I don’t get it.
Clearly Wendy Carlos doesn't want her music online, why? I have absolutely no idea, maybe she thinks she'll get ripped off by the streaming platforms like many artists have. Why she doesnt reissue them is the question Id like answered. In the synthesizer renaissance of today I think her albums would sell plenty.
I love that you went in depth about her music outside of SOB and her work in film composition! I feel like her New Age albums are where we really get to hear her voice and personal compositional techniques. I also love the inclusion of trans women voicing her :) thank you for such an informative and thoughtful video on a woman that has done more to progress electronic music in the 20th century than any other composer!!
Wendy's collaboration with "Weird Al" changed my life. And no, I'm not exaggerating. But this video taught me more than I ever knew about her and her legacy. Thank you so much for putting this together.
Not to knock Wendy and her music but for someone who has worked in the live entertainment business for 50 years. With all the names you dropped you left out Keith Emerson Master of the Moog Modular. He took the Moog from the ground floor to the penthouse. Up until his untimely passing used his MOOG Modular Keith Emerson discovered the Moog synthesizer with his band The Nice in 1969. Shortly thereafter, he reached out to Bob Moog and acquired one of the first Moog modular synthesizers, which was built for the Museum Of Modern Art's "Jazz In The Garden" public performance. From then on, the names Emerson and Moog were entwined forever. Keith became the most-visible proponent of the synthesizer revolution, using the Moog loyally onstage for almost every show of his career. Emerson became the brightest name in the world of progressive rock music, his influence and creativity rivaled only by Jimi Hendrix. He was a masterful musician in many styles, but also a renowned showman who understood that elaborate theatrics would elevate the experience of the audience to a fever pitch. Part of his "show" was to faithfully include the monstrous wall of modules and cables that his Moog had become over the years, as it had developed an instantly recognizable sound that no other instrument could duplicate.
