Chaines
Computer-controlled synthesizer music, a composition on the basis of a pre-recorded tape
1975 (9′38″)
Computer Music
“Computer-controlled synthesizer music, compositionally worked out on the basis of a pre-recorded tape:
Electronic units housed in a compact synthesizer are used to produce live electronic music. These devices are operated manually, i.e. the sound experience cannot be exactly defined. Control via computer, on the other hand, allows compositional processes to be realized exactly.
The exact data of the composition are entered into the computer via screen. The program allows, for example, to call up volume, pitch and musical patterns of various kinds from the synthesizer. The program must of course be adapted to the specific possibilities of the synthesizer,
The computer controls the synthesizer via an interface developed by Computer-Studio Erlangen. This interface converts the data of the computer (Alpha LSI -2/20) into 14 control voltages for the synthesizer.
This technical concept requires mathematical, musical formulations such as those used in the composition Chaines. Chaines was then premiered in Berlin under the name Schaakul.