The Quarantine Tapes: A week-day program from Onassis LA and dublab. Hosted by Paul Holdengräber, the series chronicles shifting paradigms in the age of social distancing. Each day, Paul calls a guest for a brief discussion about how they are experiencing the global pandemic.

About episode 134:

On episode 134 of The Quarantine Tapes, Paul Holdengräber is joined by composer Morton Subotnick. Morton is a pioneering composer in electronic music. Morton and Paul discuss the changes in music since the 1950s and when Morton realized that he was living through a pivotal moment in the history of music.

Morton worked on the development of early electronic instruments. He talks about how technology has changed the process of making and listening to music. Then, Paul and Morton touch on Mozart, Stan Brakhage, and the challenge of trying to make “new new” music instead of just “new old” music.

Morton Subotnick is one of the pioneers in the development of electronic music and multi-media performance and an innovator in works involving instruments and other media, including interactive computer music systems. Most of his music calls for a computer part, or live electronic processing; his oeuvre utilizes many of the important technological breakthroughs in the history of the genre. His work Silver Apples of the Moon has become a modern classic and was recently entered into the National Registry of Recorded works at the Library of Congress. Only 300 recordings throughout the entire history of recordings have been chosen.

Subotnick is also doing pioneering work to offer musical creative tools to young children. He has authored a series of six CD ROMS for children, a children’s website, and developing a program for classroom and after school programs that will soon become available internationally.

He tours extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe as a lecturer, composer, and performer.

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