ARCHIVE

Experimental Composers: Oskar Sala, My Fascinating Instrument (Audio)

Mar 16, 2017
Produced by Clocktower Radio.

Oskar Sala was a German physicist, composer and a pioneer of electronic music. He played an instrument called the Trautonium, a predecessor to the synthesizer. In 1929 in Berlin he studied piano and composition with composer and violinist Paul Hindemith. He also followed the experiments of Dr. Friedrich Trautwein, learning to play with Trautwein's pioneer electronic instrument, the Trautonium, adapting and mastering it. In the 40s and 50s, Sala (1910-2002) produced numerous electronic soundtracks for film directors including Rolf Thiele, Fritz Lang, and later the non-musical underscore for Alfred Hitchcock's film The Birds. This 1990 recording documents the only independent release of his compositions for the instrument, and is introduced by John Duncan of Cross Radio.