Hugh Le Caine: Compositions Demonstrations 1946-1974: reviews

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Compositions Demonstrations 1946-1974
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Review

by David Olds in The WholeNote #7:6 (Canada), March 1, 2002 |485_401|

“… insight into one of Canada’s most creative minds.”

Canada has long been regarded as a breeding ground for electronic and electroacoustic activity. One reason for this was the creative genius of artistically inclined scientific inventor Hugh Le Caine (1914-1977).

Thanks to his invaluable contributions in the fields of radar and atomic physics Le Caine was given free rein to explore and develop his ideas regarding musical instrument design at the National Research Council. He developed a variety of instruments and devices incorporating technology several decades ahead of its time. Among his achievements were the “electronic sackbut,” one of the very first analog synthesizers, the “special purpose tape recorder” which allowed pitch alteration and incorporated primitive multi-tracking techniques, and the “touch sensitive keyboard” which enabled a performer to manipulate the notes on an electronic keyboard in ways that have only recently become commercially available. Gayle Young, who literally “wrote the book” on Hugh Le Caine (a biography entitled The Sackbut Blues) has produced a compact disc of incredible historic import. This document presents not only the technological achievements of this ingenious Canadian inventor, but also captures his sense of humour. While Le Caine did not consider himself a “composer” as such, he did have a background in music and the creative drive to use his training to create some exquisite “exercises” to show off his machines. And he created at least one “classic” of the electroacoustic genre, Dripsody, constructed entirely from the manipulated and transfigured sounds of a single drop of water. This CD provides not only an important piece of Canadian history, but also gives an insight into one of Canada’s most creative minds.


Hugh Le Caine: Compositions Demonstrations 1946-1974: reviews

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Prices are in Canadian dollars — 1.00 CA$ ~ 0.98 US$ ~ 0.62 € ~ 0.49 £ ~ 1.02 AU$ ~ 105.38 ¥ — and include handling, shipping and applicable taxes.


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