European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 27, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Synthesizer society by Ken franckling United press International he piano s historic role As the no. 1 All around instrument is being eroded by synthesizers making digital technology and the computer Chip the most powerful combination in the music Industry. From teenybopper packed Rock concerts to classical music Halls churches schools and recording studios the synthesizer has become a versatile tool and Low Cost alternative to traditional composing and recording techniques. The piano Industry As a result is going through the sort of withdrawal pain harpsichord makers suffered 200 years ago when the pianoforte was born. And because of the unique versatility of the computer assisted electronic keyboard music is on the threshold of a time when an individual musician s expression is limited Only by imagination. And agencies and recording studios no longer must hire full bands or orchestras to record jingles or soundtracks. Even the Boston pops brought a Kurzweil 250 synthesizer rather than lug a grand piano last summer Lor its 100th anniversary concert on the Steps of the Lincoln memorial. Today s synths leers electronic Drums and digital sound sampling products carry names like in sonic Roland Yamaha Kurzweil Linn syn Clavier Prophet Korg Casio emulator and Fairlight. They re sophisticated descendants of the tinny yet pleasing sounds of the 1960s experimental studio synthesizers Best remembered by Wendy Carlos 1968 switched on Bach one of the All time top Selling classical record albums in the United states. The biggest factors in the evolution involve microprocessor controlled programming and a technology that brings to electronic instruments the Richness warmth and acoustic complexity i traditional instruments without the problems of tuning and delicacy that haunt even the Best of pianos. Sales figures prove the synthesizer is no longer a Novelty. The american music conference reports a six fold increase in synthesizer sales since 1980 and a steady decline in acoustic piano safes. In 1985, the synthesizer sales volume totalled 220,000 to the acoustic piano s151,300. Digital technology has really exploded says synthesizer Pioneer Robert Moog. The very first microprocessor is Only 15 years old. Today you can t buy an electronic keyboard without a  the startling Range of flexibility is made possible by a comparability system called Midi music instalment digital interface. Midi allows an array of synthesizers electronic drum kits and music sampling systems that reproduce acoustic instruments to merge sounds with few hands actually involved via computer linking. Some creative examples working from his Home studio in upstate new York composer Jan Hammer single Anderly has written and performed the soundtrack for 44 Miami vice episodes Over the past two seasons using synthesizer generated guitar Organ Bass drum and percussion parts. On Rock Star Madonna s last concert tour two synthesizer players operated the equivalent of 26 sound machines. Even her backup vocals were stored digitally and played Back by pressing a single key. The soundtrack or the movie witness was done entirely with a single synthesizer. In Boston s symphony Hall French composer Pierre Boule had half of the floor seats removed and erected a platform for the 37 musicians in the Center of the Majestic Hall. Next to the stage sat a Battery o computers tape recorders and other electronic gizmos. His work involved exchanges Between live performers and electronic Mirror image sound shadows. The room sounded like a vast wind chime. Miles Davis complained two years ago that the trumpet tone in synthesizers was the White Man s  with an emulator sampling device he s replaced it with his own trumpet sound. Davis said that new sound will be on his next album along with two borrowed synthesizer contributions the brass Section from the count Basie orchestra and the late count himself with his famous retrain one More  Midi compatible software programs print the notes played or stored in a composition Dat Bank for All instruments providing an instant transcription that eliminates laborious non creative aspects of composing. Hammer the Miami vice composer says synthesizers Are Best used to stretch beyond Mere duplications of acoustic instruments to come up with sounds that were heretofore impossible to create.  composer David Borden founded the 1970s synths group Mother Mallard s portable rss a took Moog s a we go a Road in the Early 1970s for live concerts. Borden Cal s St Hester themos.  musical invention the five non of the Pano. As we know changed music in a Way that we re still living with. Before hat he Best and most common keyboard instrument was the  he says. When the pianoforte came out. It look almost a Century to become the Solo romantic  new album. Digital moonscape is an All electronic orchestra spun from her digital keyboards synthesizer. From it she built a Library of nearly 500 voices repeal inn the features of acoustic instruments programming in several Hundred details for each note of each instrument because of shifting dynamic Levels and performance methods. Her goal now is to develop new pleasing sounds that Are far beyond straight duplication of acoustic sounds and the electronic sounds for which synthesizers Are Best known. The goal ought to be providing the base on which to build new sounds with orchestral qualities that have not been heard before but Are equally satisfying to the ear Carlos said. Moog has no sympathy for acoustic based musicians who Lee lost or left behind by the musical revolution. Technology is the driving Force behind change. That s Lite. That happens from generation to generation Moog said. Thai s Why i m not Loo inclined to feel sorry for musicians who Don t want to keep up. I went through Lour years of engineering school i Learned More things about vacuum tubes than you d Ever want to  but he has no ear that the ease of music making via synthesizers will have a shoddy result on the Art. It a technological development lets people do mediocre things it s not a danger he said. There s always a garbage pail. There was a lot of garbage in the 18th and 19th centuries but people threw it out. What remains is Bach Beethoven and  today Moog is vice president for product development at Kurzweil music systems co. In Waltham mass., which is working on less expensive Home models of its Kurzweil 250. The first unveiled in May is priced Between $6,000 and $8,000. The studio version developed at the suggestion of Stevie wonder otters 135 different sounds on its regular keyboard ranging trom acoustic piano to Chimes an assortment of choirs to clarinet clarinet with vibrato and "1,000 wild  it Sells Lor nearly $20,000. The synthesizer does t remove limitations As much As it opens up Virgin territory to explore Moog says. Sync blur and Peteto my synth smrt pm not  1985 230,000181,300 Souter am rec a Muiloc conf Rene up graphic Page 18 the stars and stripes sunday july 27,1986