Early Electronics for Music

An evening celebrating the hobbyists, dreamers and future thinkers of early electronics in music, who spliced tape and soldered circuit boards in innovative ways that shaped the sound of tomorrow. Tonight at 8 we will be screening Ian Helliwell's documentary, Practical Electronica. Happy to announce that Ian Helliwell will be joining us on the evening to introduce his film. The story of pioneer and proselytiser of electronic music F C Judd, this experimental film examines Fred Judd's activity with electronics and musique concrete during the 1950s and 60s, and explores the innovative career of this English musician, inventor, engineer, designer and author. The focus is on his experimental sound, and the widespread tape recording activity of his day, filling in a lost chapter in early electronic music history. With the cooperation of his widow, Fred's story is told through cine film, archive footage, animation and experimental video; all materials that Helliwell has a unique affinity with. The documentary has no interviewees, and is rooted in the amateur tape recording world that Fred inhabited during the 60s - narration, electronic sounds and his voice tell the story. Following this we will have two live performances from acts utilising the techniques of early electronics within today's musical parameters.