Atrium Display: Electrogenesis, Ivor Darreg & the First Keyboard Synth Drawings from 1936-38
Ivor Darreg (1917-1994) Invented the keyboard synthesizer in 1936 as a 19 year old. It was the first instrument of its kind in the world.
An iconoclastic genius, composer, tuning theorist and instrument inventor, he created the “Electric Keyboard Oboe,” “Drum Synth,” “Orgatron,” and “Thyrotron” inspired by Leon Theramin. His synth systems were microtonal, exploring both just intonation and small equal temperaments like 19ET and 22ET.
On display are drawings for several electronic instruments from the late 30s, including the iconic “Electric Keyboard Oboe.” The 4 drawings on the far right are from a patent paper he wrote in 1937 with the first circuit designs for original musical instruments in english. Some of these circuits were realized in his early electronic instrument experiments, while others remain solely conceptual.
Drawings on loan from the Interval Foundation
Jonathan Glasier, Director
Kathleen Smith, Archivist