The History of Berlin School Electronic Music
Berlin School electronic music is a style of music that developed in the 1970s in Germany. It is characterized by its use of electronic instruments and repetitive, hypnotic rhythms. Many of the pioneers of this style of music were associated with the Berlin-based record label, Klang Elektronik.
Berlin School
The Berlin School is a style of electronic music that emerged in the late 1970s in West Berlin. The music of the Berlin School is characterized by a slowly evolving melodic line, often based on a simple chord progression, with a minimalistic or avant-garde approach to sound design and composition. The style was influenced by the work of composers such as Karlheinz Stockhausen and Mauricio Kagel, as well as by the experimental electronic music of the 1960s.
The first wave of Berlin School artists
The first wave of Berlin School artists emerged in the early 1970s and included Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, Ashra, and Manuel Göttsching. These artists were strongly inspired by the work of Wendy Carlos and Kraftwerk. They synthesizers to create long, slowly evolving compositions that incorporated elements of repetition and hypnotic trance states. The music of this period is often referred to as “kosmische musik” or “space music.”
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a second wave of Berlin School artists emerged that included Edgar Froese, Christopher Franke, and Paul Haslinger of Tangerine Dream; Michael Hoenig; Klaus Schulze; and Wolfgang Dauner. These artists continued to explore the possibilities of electronic music, but also began to experiment with other genres such as jazz and rock. The music of this period is often referred to as “Berlin School electronica.”
The Berlin School style has been influential on a number of subsequent electronic music genres, including New Age music, ambient music, and trance music.
The second wave of Berlin School artists
The second wave of Berlin School artists emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Overshadowed by the first wave, these artists were mostly active in West Germany and had little international exposure. Prominent figures from this period include Klaus Schulze, Wolfgang Dauner, Michael Hoenig, Thomas Fehlmann, and Harald Grosskopf. Building on the foundations laid by their predecessors, these artists took the Berlin School sound in new and exciting directions.
While the first wave of Berlin School artists was focused on creating long-form pieces of music, the second wave was more concerned with shorter tracks that could be played on the radio or in clubs. This shift was partly due to the influence of Kraftwerk, who had paved the way for electronic dance music with their hits “Autobahn” and “Trans-Europe Express.” The second wave of Berlin School artists also began to experiment with new sounds and textures, incorporating elements of jazz, rock, and pop into their music.
Despite their considerable talents, the second wave of Berlin School artists never achieved the same level of success as the first. This is likely due to a combination of factors, including poor timing (the world was not yet ready for electronic dance music), limited exposure (these artists were mostly unknown outside of Germany), and stiff competition from other genres (especially punk rock). Nevertheless, the second wave of Berlin School artists made a lasting contribution to electronic music and helped to shape the sound of many subsequent genres.
The Berlin School sound
The Berlin School is a style of electronic music that emerged in West Berlin in the 1970s. Highly influential to this day, the sound is characterized by long, slow-building drones and hypnotic rhythms. The Berlin School is often cited as the origin of ambient music. Let’s explore the history of this important genre.
The early sound of the Berlin School
The early sound of the Berlin School was characterised by the use of long, winding melodies, often played on a sequencer. This gave the music a cyclical quality, and helped to create a feeling of euphoria. The melodies were often accompanied by simple chord progressions, giving the music a hypnotic quality. The sound was underpinned by a pulsing bassline, which provided a steady groove for the listener to get lost in.
The sound of the Berlin School today
The Berlin School sound is very much alive and well today. Many contemporary electronic musicians have been influenced by the work of the original Berlin School composers, and the sound of the Berlin School can be heard in a wide variety of electronic music genres. If you’re a fan of electronic music, there’s a good chance you’ve already heard the sound of the Berlin School, even if you didn’t know it at the time.
The influence of the Berlin School
The Berlin School is a style of electronic music that emerged in the 1970s. The Berlin School was influenced by the music of Karlheinz Stockhausen and Brian Eno. The Berlin School electronic music is characterized by long, slow-moving chords and melodies. The Berlin School was named after the city in which it was developed, Berlin, Germany.
The influence of the Berlin School on other genres
The Berlin School style of electronic music has had a profound influence on other genres of music, including ambient, new-age, and trance. In fact, many of the artists who helped to pioneer these genres were either directly influenced by the Berlin School or were part of the Berlin School scene.
Ambient music, in particular, owes a great debt to the Berlin School. The genre is characterized by long, slow-moving pieces that create a sense of atmosphere and space. This is very similar to what many Berlin School composers were aiming for with their music. Brian Eno, one of the most important figures in ambient music, has cited Klaus Schulze as a major influence.
New-age music is another genre that has been heavily influenced by the Berlin School. This type of music often features synthesizers and other electronic instruments in a meditative or contemplative setting. Like ambient music, it is often quite slow and relaxing. Michael Cusacks, one of the founders of new-age label New earth Records, cites Tangerine Dream as one of his favorite groups.
The trance genre also owes a lot to the Berlin School style. Trance pieces are usually characterized by driving rhythms and repetitive melodies, both of which are hallmarks of the Berlin School. Many early trance producers, including Oliver Lieb and Pascal Flemming, cite Klaus Schulze as an important influence.
The influence of the Berlin School on popular culture
The Berlin School style of electronic music had a profound and wide-ranging influence on the development of popular music. The use of synthesizers, electronic rhythms and sound effects can be heard in the music of many popular artists today.
The Berlin School style was developed in the 1970s by a group of musicians who were associated with the German record label Kraftwerk. These musicians, including Karlheinz Stockhausen and Klaus Schulze, pioneered the use of synthesizers and other electronic instruments in music.
The Berlin School style was characterized by its use of lengthy, slowly evolving pieces which built up layers of sound. This style was in contrast to the shorter, more immediate pop songs that were popular at the time.
The influence of the Berlin School can be heard in the music of many popular artists today, including Brian Eno, Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode.
