• Raymond Scott, the "man who made cartoons swing"
    6 replies, posted
[IMG]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8ysPLV_AwpY/RtmlK5SrUoI/AAAAAAAAAJc/mVhFUqslY6c/s400/RS1934.jpg[/IMG] [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Scott"]Raymond Scott[/URL], (born [B]Harry Warnow[/B], 10 September 1908 — 8 February 1994), was an American composer, band leader, engineer/inventor, and composer of early electronic music. But beyond this, he was a genius who's talent was immense, but not widely known. He made many amazing early advances in electronic music (which were, sadly, not widespread due to his isolationism), building instruments/devices such as the Electronium, a self composing sequencer/synthesizer, and composing many startlingly modern pieces of early electronic music. Many of his compositions sound fresh today, if a bit retro, such as one of my favorites, Cindy Electronium off of the 2000 collection of his work entitled [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_Research_Inc."]Manhattan Research, Inc. [/URL] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SHJ6CcML80[/media] Note this was composed in 1959, far predating any other kind of... catchy electronic music, for lack of a better term. The zeitgeist of the time was academic music and Musique Concrete, fascinating compositions but the majority of then not very listenable. Scott, on the other hand, made music the likes of which wouldn't be commonly seen until the advent of modern synthesizers in the late 60's/early 70's. Another good example of his early genius is the song Little Miss Echo, off of his 3 LP album "Soothing Sounds For Baby". The concept was an album meant to help babies of different ages sleep, and it fails miserably at that, but as great work of pre-ambient music, it shines. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZuzAA3tAz4[/media] This predates modern Ambient music by a good decade, and even minimalism, the predecessor of sorts to ambient. These and other works readily display his genius, and make it even sadder that he wasn't more open with his music or his technology. Electronic music could have been pushed forward years if he was. But, this is not what the majority of you would be interested in. Raymond Scott is far more famous for another aspect of his work, that of a jazz musician and composer. The nickname "the man who made cartoons swing" is rightfully deserved, because he composed possibly the most famous song ever to feature in cartoons, Powerhouse. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfDqR4fqIWE[/media] Instantly recognizable to anyone who watched cartoons as a kid, this song has featured in dozens and dozens of cartoons over the years, and almost no one knows where it's originally from. Along with Powerhouse, many other works like it were featured in cartoons, such as The Toy Trumpet [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7EdkcwY_fw[/media] As Wiki says: [QUOTE]Though Scott never scored cartoon soundtracks, his music is familiar to millions because of its adaptation by [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Stalling"]Carl Stalling[/URL] in over 120 classic [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugs_Bunny"]Bugs Bunny[/URL], [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porky_Pig"]Porky Pig[/URL], [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daffy_Duck"]Daffy Duck[/URL] and other [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros."]Warner Bros.[/URL] [I][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looney_Tunes"]Looney Tunes[/URL][/I] and [I][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrie_Melodies"]Merrie Melodies[/URL][/I] animated features.[/QUOTE] Scott never composed a bit directly for cartoons, but nonetheless his music is known and loved by thousands, despite not even knowing the original composer. It's sad that a man of such genius isn't more recognized, though he has been more and more known over the past decade due to a rediscovery of his work and the release of the Manhattan Research, Inc collection (which I highly, highly recommend. very entertaining and some cool music in there). I made this topic to help that recognition a tad bit, because Raymond Scott is one of my favorite musicians ever, and he should be just as known as other pioneers of the music. That, and I thought FP would appreciate some of what he's done, and would enjoy learning the roots of that ever present assembly line music.
Amazing stuff, considering when it was composed.
Neat.
Robert Crumb made cartoon characters "swing"
[QUOTE=Dr. Fishtastic;23510299]Robert Crumb made cartoon characters "swing"[/QUOTE] You know what I mean, pervert :colbert: And since I can't edit the OP without destroying my media tags, i'll say here. Another cool, and in some ways more important, aspect of Scott's is his work in advertising and music for advertising. That's what actually pushed a lot of his innovation, requests for music for various advertisements. It makes up a majority of Manhattan Research, Inc, and it's really a truly interesting thing. It's major zeerust, a really retro/nostalgic feeling, hearing actual 50's commercials and the fascinating and sometimes bizarre music that went along with them (not to mention how weird some of the commercials themselves are)
I figured Pink Floyd didn't just get their inspiration from thin air (and drugs).
[QUOTE=The_Fly56556;23510384]I figured Pink Floyd didn't just get their inspiration from thin air (and drugs).[/QUOTE] Actually, Pink Floyd and a lot of their contemporaries got influence more from minimalistic and ambient composers, especially Terry Riley. [media]http://youtube.com/watch?v=apxuRKWmEJs[/media] Here's (part of, full track is ~18 min long) A Rainbow in Curved Air, one of his more well known and influential tracks. For example, the Who song "Baba O'Riley" is partially named after him
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