##Artefacts Communique 5##

Artefacts of Australian Experimental Music: 1930 – 1973 is a landmark compilation CD documenting the forgotten pioneers of Australian music.  For full details, track listing and audio samples, go to http://ShameFileMusic.com

This Wednesday night from 10pm, myself and Warren Burt will appear on 3RRR-FMs Symbiosis programme to chat about the Artefacts project.  Stream from http://www.rrr.org.au .

 

Bruce Clarke – The Jingle Workshop

 

A major landmark in the history of Australian electronic music was not the result of an extensive research project, but of a musicians strike.

 

In early 1960s Melbourne, Bruce Clarke discovered the electronic works of Stockhausen, and was inspired to begin exploring electronic music himself.  Clarke was one of the first Australian’s to work with early synthesisers, like the Moog.  Clarke worked in a “Jingle Workshop”, where advertising jingles were written and recorded.  A strike by the Australian Musicians Union in the early 1960s led to Clarke creating a completely electronic soundtrack for a cigarette commercial.

 

Clarke is one of those rare cases in Australia of experimental music coming from a commercial industry.  He expressed doubt regarding the notion of ‘art for art’s sake’, favouring more practical applications of problem-solving experimentation.  Clarke said experimental musicians could only overcome the conservative Australian artistic climate by presenting their work as a saleable commodity.

 

Artefacts of Australian Experimental Music: 1930 – 1972 features Clarke’s “Of Spiralling Why”, one of the first completely electronic compositions produced in Australia, commissioned for the Adelaide Arts Festival in 1966. 

 

Clarke continued to work in both experimental music and jazz.  He worked extensively with composer Felix Werder, including Werder’s excursions into electronic music, also featured on Artefacts.

 

The Melbourne CD launch approaches:

 

Friday 13 July, North Melbourne Town Hall, from 7:30pm – Robin Fox on analogue synthesisers again, and a panel discussion on the history of experimental music with Robin, Pauline Oliveros, Warren Burt & Rainer Linz.

 

Artefacts of Australian Experimental Music: 1930 – 1973 is available now from http://ShameFileMusic.com for AU$27ppd (US$23ppd).  Look for it in shops in the coming week.