Wendy Carlos
Today I am happy to write about a beautiful women named Wendy Carlos who is considered to be a “synthesizer genius!” Wendy is also a trans woman, and I love, respect and appreciate that a lot! Wendy was assigned male at birth in 1939 and her name was originally Walter Carlos.
I think her biggest well-known accomplishment musically was the arrangement project she did with Rachel Elkind in the 1960’s called “Switched-On Bach.” This project consisted of arranging different Bach pieces on synthesizer. It took the musical world by storm because most people that electronic music could only sound ugly! But they made it sound beautiful in its own electronic way.
During the time of “Switched-On Bach” Wendy was transitioning and because of fear of ridicule, put her previous name on the project and hid from society for a decade after the pieces release.
Four albums came about with the Electronic-Bach era with collaborations with Rachel Elkind. The first was of course “Switched-On Bach,” the second is called “The Well-Tempered Synthesizer,” the third “Switched-On Back II,” and lastly was “Switched-On Brandenburgs.”
This is one of the pieces featured within her projects!
Wendy Carlos studied electronic music at the Columbia/Princeton Electronic Music Center under the composer Vladimir Ussechevsky!
She continues working in film score today with pieces from 1971’s “A Clockwork Orange” and 1982 Disney’s “Tron.”
I think she is a memorable person to do more research on and get to know! An extremely brave individual for embracing the world as her most authentic self all while change the face of music!
I cannot seem to find individual recordings of the project.
Here is her website!!
Here are some interviews with Carlos!
References:
Carlos, Wendy. “Wendy Carlos .” Wendy Carlos, http://www.wendycarlos.com. Accessed 6 Apr. 2021.
Niebur, Louis. “Switched-On Bach” — Wendy Carlos (1968). Library of Congree, 2005.
Staff, Stateside. “The Trans Woman Who Switched on Synths for American Ears: New Biography of Wendy Carlos | Michigan Radio.” Michigan Radio, https://www.michiganradio.org/post/trans-woman-who-switched-synths-american-ears-new-biography-wendy-carlos. Accessed 6 Apr. 2021.
