Timeline of Electronic Music: From Past to Present

The electronic music scene has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the early 20th century. Join us as we take a look at the Timeline of Electronic Music: From Past to Present.

Introduction

Electronic music is one of the most popular genres today, enjoyed by listeners of all ages. But where did it come from? This timeline traces the history of electronic music from its earliest beginnings up to the present day.

1876: The Telephone
The invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 marks the beginning of electronic music. Bell’s device was able to convert sound into electrical signals, which could be transmitted over long distances. This technology would lay the foundation for many future innovations in music.

1898: The Theremin
The theremin, one of the first electronic musical instruments, is invented by Russian scientist Leon Theremin. The theremin is played without physical contact, using two metal antennas that sense the position of the player’s hands in relation to each other. This strange and unique instrument would go on to inspire a whole new genre of music known as “space age pop.”

1933: The Ondes Martenot
French composer Olivier Messiaen creates the Ondes Martenot, another early electronic musical instrument. The Ondes Martenot produces sounds similar to those of a theremin, but with a more refined and controllable tone. It would go on to be used by a number of famous composers, including Olivier Messiaen himself, Pierre Boulez, and Jon Lord of Deep Purple fame.

1939: The Telegraphone
The Telegraphone, one of the first reel-to-reel tape recorders, is invented by British engineer Alec Reeves. Reeves’ device allows recorded sounds to be played back repeatedly, making it possible to create loops and layers of sound. This technology would prove crucial to the development of electronic music.

1942: The Trautonium
German composer Paul Hindemith creates the Trautonium, another important early electronic musical instrument. The Trautonium is played using a keyboard that controls a network of capacitors, which in turn generate electrical signals that create sound. Like the theremin and Ondes Martenot before it, the Trautonium would go on to inspire a number of famous composers, including Karlheinz Stockhausen and John Cage.

1948: The transistor is invented by American physicists John Bardeen and Walter Brattain. The transistor is a small semiconductor device that can amplify or switch electric signals. This invention would have a profound impact on electronic music, making it possible to create smaller and more portable electronic musical instruments

Pre-1900s: Early Electronic Instruments

The timeline of electronic music begins in the early 1800s with the invention of early electronic instruments. These instruments, which include the theremin and the ondes martenot, paved the way for the development of electronic music in the 20th century. Let’s take a closer look at these early instruments and how they influenced the evolution of electronic music.

900-1930s: Radios, Phonographs, and Film

The first electronic instruments were developed in the early 1900s. These included the radio and the phonograph. The radio was used to broadcast music, and the phonograph was used to record and play back music. The film industry also began to use electronic instruments in the 1930s.

1930s-1950s: The Birth of Electronic Music

The earliest examples of electronic music were created in the 1930s and 1940s, using a variety of electronic instruments and devices. These early compositions were often experimental in nature, and made use of new and unusual sounds.

One of the most important figures in early electronic music was Italian composer Luigi Russolo. In 1913, Russolo wrote a manifesto entitled “The Art of Noises”, in which he called for the creation of music that would make use of all the noises found in nature. Russolo created several “noise instruments”, which he called intonarumori, or “noise intoners”. These instruments were capable of producing a range of sounds, from whistles and buzzes to roars and crashes.

Russolo’s ideas were taken up by other composers, including French composer Edgar Varese. Varese’s most famous work, “Poeme Electronique”, was composed for the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels. The piece made use of 400 tape recorders, producing a range of unusual sounds that were mixed together to create an eerie and unsettling soundscape.

Other important figures in early electronic music include German composers Karlheinz Stockhausen and Werner Meyer-Eppler, American composer John Cage, and Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich.

1950s-1960s: The Rise of Experimental Music

The avant-garde and experimental music of the 1950s and 1960s gave rise to a new breed of electronic musician. With the help of new technology, these artists were able to push the boundaries of sound and create music that was truly unique.

One of the most important innovators of this era was German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. His work with electronic music helped to pave the way for a new generation of musicians. Another important figure was American composer John Cage, who is known for his work with chance operations and prepared pianos.

The 1960s also saw the rise of psychedelic rock, which made use of new electronic effects and synthesizers. Bands like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and The Doors all experimented with this new sound, and it would go on to have a major influence on electronic music in the years to come.

1960s-1970s: The Golden Age of Electronic Music

The 1960s and 1970s were the golden age of electronic music. This was the era when electronic music first emerged as a distinct genre, with artists such as Brian Eno, Kraftwerk, and Giorgio Moroder helping to define the sound of the genre. This was also the era when electronic music first began to be used in popular music, with artists such as The Beatles and David Bowie using it on some of their most famous recordings.

1970s-1980s: The New Wave of Electronic Music

The 1970s and 1980s saw a massive surge in the popularity of electronic music. This was due in part to the increasing availability of affordable electronic musical instruments, such as synthesizers, and the development of new music technology, such as computer-based sequencers.

During this time period, many different genres of electronic music began to emerge, including disco, hip hop, new wave, techno, and house. Among the most influential electronic musicians of this era were Giorgio Moroder, Kraftwerk, and Afrika Bambaataa.

The 1990s and 2000s saw a continued explosion in the popularity of electronic music. This was due in part to the increasing availability of powerful music production software, such as Pro Tools and Logic Pro.

During this time period, many different genres of electronic music continued to emerge, including drum and bass, trance, IDM, dubstep, and electro house. Among the most influential electronic musicians of this era were Aphex Twin, Autechre, and Squarepusher.

1980s-1990s: The Rise of House and Techno

In the early 1980s, the first wave of electronic music began to take shape with the advent of synthesizers and other electronic instruments. This new style of music quickly found its way into clubs and dance venues, where it soon became a mainstay. Among the most popular genres to emerge during this time were house and techno.

House music is a style of electronic dance music that originated in the Chicago club scene in the early 1980s. It is characterized by a deep, thumping bassline and spacious rhythms. Techno is a similar style of music that also originated in the 1980s, but it is distinguished by its more experimental soundscapes and use of samples.

Both genres quickly rose to popularity in the underground club scene and would go on to have a major impact on the evolution of electronic music in the years to come.

1990s-2000s: The Age of EDM

The 1990s and early 2000s saw the rise of EDM, or electronic dance music. This genre of music is characterized by its use of synthesizers, drum machines and other electronic instruments. EDM artists often create remixes of existing songs, which are popular in nightclubs and at music festivals.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, two subgenres of EDM emerged: trance and techno. Trance music is characterized by its use of repetitive, hypnotic rhythms designed to induce a state of trance in the listener. Techno is a more experimental form of EDM that often incorporates elements of other genres, such as acid house or dubstep.

In the mid-2000s, another subgenre of EDM called electro house began to gain popularity. Electro house is a fusion of electronic dance music and house music. It is typified by its use of heavy basslines and synth melodies.

Today, EDM is one of the most popular genres of music in the world. It has influenced countless other genres, including pop, hip hop and indie rock.

2000s-present: The New Wave of Electronic Music

The early 2000s saw a renewed interest in electronic music, marked by a revival of synth-pop and new wave. Bands like The Knife, Hot Chip, and LCD Soundsystem blended elements of disco, house, and techno with pop sensibilities, while acts like Justice and Simian Mobile Disco brought a heavier, more club-oriented sound. This period also saw the rise of dubstep, a offshoot of UK garage that focused on dark basslines and spaces.