 |
 When my friend Dana
Countryman kindly gave me the MANHATTAN RESEARCH INC.
2-CD set in Paris recently, I had no idea that a lot of memories
from 40 years ago would come back to me while listening to this
music, and reading this fantastic book.
> >
In March
of 1960, a few weeks after I arrived in the United States for
the very first time, my sponsor Carroll Bratman decided to import
Ondiolines from France to the U.S., and he asked me to demonstrate
the Ondioline to Raymond Scott at Scott's studio. Carroll told
me that this man was a very talented composer and was experimenting
with new electronic music instruments that he had invented. And
he added, "He is the composer of the tune 'The Toy Trumpet.'
" So, I was very impressed, since that was my first contact
with a well-known musician in the U.S., just arriving from Europe
with all my hopes and projects.
> >
We were
very welcomed at Raymond Scott's studio (or should I say a "laboratory"
instead!) and he was very enthusiastic about the Ondioline. He
wanted one and it arrived after a few weeks.
> >
By the
way, you can see a photo of his Ondioline (after being modified
-- with it's outer case removed) on page 77 in the MANHATTAN
RESEARCH INC. book, just to the right of Scott. That's why
this album has reminded me so much of my first weeks in New York
City.
> >
I must
say that I have been very enthusiastic about this album for many
reasons. First of all, for Raymond Scott himself. This man was
a true genius, deserving to be classified among the great pioneers
of electronic music for his contributions to this domain. He
deserves to be named in the history books, alongside of electronic
musical instrument inventors such as Theremin, Pechadre, Trautwein,
Bode, le Caine, Givelet, Martenot, Georges Jenny, Bob Moog, and
more to come.
> >
Secondly,
Raymond Scott composed a lot of music for radio and TV commercials
which were very successful. He recorded with his own instruments
(Clavivox, Electronium, etc.) and did his own composing on them.
When I hear the two CDs contained in this compilation, I am amazed
of the versatility of his talent, creativity, originality, and
imagination.
> >
Thirdly,
I want to pay tribute to Basta Records for putting such a wonderful
album on the market, with a very serious documentary book full
of interesting information, and in such a high-quality artistic
package. MANHATTAN RESEARCH INC. is a work of art which
should be found in the record collections of all present-day
electronic music composers. It also should be used as scholarly
reference material.
> >
Thank you,
to have dared to issue an album of such quality. BRAVO!
Jean-Jacques Perrey
Evian,
France |
e-mail: info@RaymondScott.com
Created,
Owned, & Operated by: Jeff Winner
Special Thanks to Jean-Jacques Perrey & Dana Countryman
No part of this website may be reproduced in any way without
permission
This publication is privately funded in the USA by Jeff Winner
Copyright ®1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Jeff
Winner
All Rights Reserved
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