Add to Playlist Joe Stilgoe and Gabriella Swallow on Beethoven, Doo-wop and Mambo
Sep 6, 2024
Join singer and songwriter Joe Stilgoe and versatile cellist Gabriella Swallow as they dive into a world of musical connections. They explore the groundbreaking use of the vocoder in A Clockwork Orange, revealing its role in the film's chilling scenes. Joe links Beethoven's influence to Billy Joel's This Night, while Gabriella highlights the rhythmic ties between early doo-wop and mambo with Yma Sumac's vibrant track, Gopher. The conversation brings together diverse genres, showcasing the richness and interconnectedness of music.
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Vocoder Meets Beethoven
- Wendy Carlos fused physics and music by pairing a prototype vocoder with a Moog to remake Beethoven for film.
- Her 1971 Clockwork Orange score is one of the earliest musical uses of a vocoder and subverts Ode to Joy into menace.
Childhood Haunting By Synth Scores
- Joe Stilgoe recalls finding The Shining VHS at age nine and being haunted by Wendy Carlos' synthesizer music.
- That childhood exposure shaped his sense of menacing electronic soundscapes.
Scientist-Musician Pioneer
- Wendy Carlos combined formal training in physics and music to pioneer electronic classical interpretations.
- Her Switched-On Bach success enabled experimental film scores and later recognition despite transgender-era credit issues.
