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Electronic music

How pioneers from the Radiophonic Workshop to Kraftwerk harnessed the power of electricity to create brand new sounds that helped to shape modern music.

Inside the Radiophonic Workshop, 1962
video

Inside the Radiophonic Workshop, 1962

Private Dreams and Public Nightmares

The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, 1965
video

The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, 1965

Electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire demonstrates how she creates her innovative sounds

Early electronic music, 1968
video

Early electronic music, 1968

Peter Zinovieff shows Tomorrow's World how he can make machines perform

Sweden's electronic music studio, 1970
video

Sweden's electronic music studio, 1970

"A new development as important as the invention of the piano"

Perfect acoustics, 1970
video

Perfect acoustics, 1970

James Burke, an anechoic chamber, a guitar... and a gun

Kraftwerk, 1975
video

Kraftwerk, 1975

The German electro-boffins demonstrate a strange new form of music

Roger Limb, BBC Radiophonic Workshop, 1976
video

Roger Limb, BBC Radiophonic Workshop, 1976

Roger Limb demonstrates the techniques he uses to create electronic music

Drum Synthesizer, 1980
video

Drum Synthesizer, 1980

"There's more to these drums than just hitting them"

Portable suitcase studio, 1980
video

Portable suitcase studio, 1980

Michael Rodd lays down some tracks on a suitcase-sized recording studio - an early 4-track recorder.

An early history of electronic music, 1981
video

An early history of electronic music, 1981

Roxy Music's Andy Mackay discussed the history of electronic music, and demonstrated the electronic oboe (electroboe?)

Brian Eno on synths, 1982
video

Brian Eno on synths, 1982

Eno talks about the future of synthesis

Depeche Mode, 1983
video

Depeche Mode, 1983

We just can't get enough of this lovely nugget of the band in rehearsal, when those not in the know still pronounced them as "Depech-ay Mode"

Elizabeth Parker - BBC Radiophonic Workshop, 1984
video

Elizabeth Parker - BBC Radiophonic Workshop, 1984

The composer explains how she scored David Attenborough's The Living Planet

The Simmons electronic drum kit, 1984
video

The Simmons electronic drum kit, 1984

Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson, Genesis) demonstrates a Simmons electronic drum kit on Micro Live

Robert Moog on a Minimoog, 1985
video

Robert Moog on a Minimoog, 1985

"This is the last off the production line"

Computer music software, 1986
video

Computer music software, 1986

Micro Live's Fred Harris tested the latest computer music software to make a MIDI

Wendy Carlos on electronic music, 1989
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Wendy Carlos on electronic music, 1989

"One of the pioneers of synthesized sound"

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