Twenty Thousand Hertz Butterfly in the Synth: Reading Rainbow’s Magical Theme Song
9 snips
Jan 12, 2026 Steve Horelick, a composer and electronic music pioneer, shares the captivating journey behind the iconic theme song of Reading Rainbow. He discusses how empowering lyrics and a unique butterfly synth sound were crafted using innovative equipment. The narrative includes delightful anecdotes about Chaka Khan's involvement and a mystery drummer, along with insights into the song's enduring impact on his career and its cultural significance. Horelick's creative process offers a fascinating glimpse into the magic of music production.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
How The Song Was Born From A Storyboard
- Steve Horelick recalled Patchworks getting a demo request for a new PBS kids show and starting from a storyboard with a book and a butterfly.
- Janet Weir transformed Dennis Kleinman's playful lines into the empowering hook, "butterfly in the sky / I can go twice as high."
Randomness Shaped Into A Memorable Motif
- The iconic fluttering synth came from shaping randomness with a Buchla MARF sequencer to mimic a butterfly's unpredictable flight.
- Steve weighted a 16-step sequence toward certain notes to keep melody while letting pitches appear in random order.
Make Synths Feel Organic
- Soften attack and release to make sequenced synth notes feel "fluffy" instead of percussive when imitating organic motions.
- Add delay and spring reverb to blend notes into a single recognizable, approachable sound for kids.