Erik Norlander’s Galactic Incentive
For a Limited Time Only
Receive Erik Norlander’s New The Galactic Collective With $25 Donation
Erik Norlander is many things to the world of synth-driven symphonic rock. He is a maestro at the keys, a composer, producer, synth designer and a sterling bandmate and colleague to many in the music industry. To the Bob Moog Foundation, Erik is a rockstar advocate for our cause, raising his voice (and synths) for us time and time again:
- Catch him in this YouTube video talking about Bob’s legacy,
- Listen to the original song, The Princely Hours, that he composed for the Bob Moog Foundation on all Moog instruments here
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Check out the photo gallery from his recent performance at our spring fundraiser Moogus Operandi, which took place on May 27th.
The Galactic Collective
For a limited time only, thanks to Erik’s generosity, we are able to offer his new CD, the very Moog-centric The Galactic Collective, with a donation of $25.00 to the BMF. Erik enthusiastically supports our efforts to teach science through electronic music, and to restore Bob’s archives, and to create a Moogseum, a hallmark interactive facility where these two goals will converge.
Please join Erik in supporting the BMF by donating today.
Not only will you be supporting the Bob Moog Foundaiton’s mission to educate, inspire and innovate through electronic music, you will receive Erik’s excellent CD which includes insightful liner notes from Michelle Moog-Koussa where she speaks to Erik’s connection to Bob Moog. Here is a sampling from those introductory notes :
“It is said that in hands of the highest caliber, the use of technology becomes magic. Not pull-a-rabbit-out-of-a-hat magic, but awe-inspiring transcendental connection. Bob handed off his technological, musical baton and Erik Norlander has cradled it in his hands, skillfully, lovingly exploring the limits of sonic expression and incorporating it into his expressive, epic music. Magic.”
To read more about The Galactic Collective, check out this great review on Ystejam.
Moogus Operandi Through the Lens of Jon Leidel
Images from Moogus Operandi
An Incredible Night of Celebrating Bob Moog’s Spirit
On May 27th, the Bob Moog Foundation presented Moogus Operandi, a benefit concert featuring synth wizard Erik Norlander and an ensemble of Asheville musicians. Playing to a packed room at the Orange Peel, Asheville’s premiere music club, Norlander knocked Asheville on its musical ear with music from his latest release The Galactic Collective and from his extensive back catalog.
With his newly re-configured “Wall of Doom” custom Moog modular synthesizer providing the sonic and visual backdrop, Norlander explored the boundaries of the legendary Moog sound and captured the creative, analog-based vibe that is Moog. One Moogus Operandi attendee summed it up when he was asked by another “What do you think of the music”? to which the response was simply “Goosebumps”.
Enjoy these images from Moogus Operandi, the musical memory of which still lingers in the minds of the attendees and participants alike. Many thanks to our Rockstar photographer, Jon Leidel, for capturing the evening so beautifully and to Erik and all the participating musicians who donated their time to make this evening possible. Thanks also to our sponsors whose support allowed us to bring the Wall of Doom in for the event, and to all of our volunteers, who make our work possible.
You can see a photo gallery of the Moogus Operandi rehearsals here.
Stay tuned for the upcoming audio and video recording of Moogus Operandi!
Thank you Moogus Operandi Sponsors!
Putting on a big show like Moogus Operandi is a major endeavor. We couldn’t have pulled it off without the support of our sponsors! We would like to thank:
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company – For the financial sponsorship of the event, the assistance planning the promotion, the copious amounts of delicious food that helped feed the hungry musicians and for brewing that amazing Moog Filtered Ale!
City Mac Asheville – A gold level sponsor, City Mac also donated an iPod Touch for our raffle and provided 3 Macs for our art auction at the event itself.
Echo Mountain Recording – This world-class studio hosted Erik and the ensemble of musicians for almost a week. The generous staff lent physical and technical assistance before, during and after the long days of rehearsals.
Grove Park Inn – This gorgeous landmark hotel graciously hosted Erik Norlander and Lana Lane with a donated room during their Asheville stay. Needless to say, Erik and Lana were delighted with the accomodations, which provided a much needed respite from 12+ hours of rehearsals each day.
Gould Killian CPA Group – This group of Asheville accountants supported the event with a silver level sponsorship. They were Bob’s accounting firm for many years.
Moog Music, Inc. came on as a silver level sponsor and donated a Muli-Pedal for our raffle. True to form, they also lent us plenty of great Moog gear for our MoogLab interactive experience at the event.
Mountain Xpress – Asheville’s favorite independent paper lent their mighty voice with a donation of ad space, which was immeasurable helpful to us spreading the word about our event. Outside of their sponsorship, the MX also featured a cover story on Moogus Operandi.
RBC Centura – Our local bank is always there with words of encouragement and support. They put their money where their mouth is and came on with a silver level sponsorship.
98.1 River – How can you go wrong with a radio station who’s slogan is “Different is good?” 98.1 The River rocked the promotion of our event with daily announcements and a couple of great interviews. Super cool DJ Ashley “BadAsh” Davis stepped up as our MC for the evening – she was terrific!
Additional thanks to: Smashing Guitars, The Piano Emporium, Early Girl Eatery, Chef in Motion, Asheville Wine Gallery, Colorful Palate Catering, Collapsable Studios.
Moogus Operandi Rehearsals – The Photo Gallery
Moogus Operandi, a benefit concert featuring Erik Norlander and a host of Asheville musicians, was an amazing evening of musical and visual celebration. You can read more about it and see a gallery of photos of the event here.
Leading up the the event itself, Erik spent weeks arranging his music for the new musicians/instruments that were to be included for the concert. He flew in a week early and set up rehearsal space at Echo Mountain Recording, where he rehearsed with local musicians for three 12-hour days before the event. Below are some of the images captured at those rehearsals; they are courtesy of Jon Leidel Photography.
Many, many thanks to all of the musicians who lent their time and talents, which made the evening a huge success.
BMF Re-Configures Norlander’s “Wall of Doom” Custom Moog Modular
Bob Moog Foundation and Erik Norlander Make Modular Synthesis Accessible for Fans and Students
Erik Norlander, synth guru and ardent supporter of the Bob Moog Foundation, is known for his Moog-laden symphonic rock. At the heart of Erik’s music is his massive custom Moog modular synthesizer, affectionally referred to as the Wall of Doom by his roadies. You can get a glimpse of the WOD, situated behind Erik, below.
Erik Norlander with his custom modular synthesizer in the background
Here’s how Erik sums up the synths unique attributes:” My modular synthesizer is a unique creation that started out life as a Moog IIC in 1967, grew to a IV-C in the late 90s and then was repackaged as the first “Wall of Doom” in 2001. All of the audio modules are original Moog modules from 1967 – 1972 except for three custom 16x2x1 oscillator mixes that use the identical circuit topology as the original 1967 (pre-CP3) Bob Moog design to mix the system’s 22 oscillators. Many other custom control modules have been added including 8 channels of MIDI to Gate/CV along with additional processor modules from Roger Arrick’s Synthesizers.com in Texas. The control elements are extremely modern and offer state of the art flexibility; The sound is pure Moog.”
Recently, Erik and the Bob Moog Foundation joined forces to make this historical synthesizer more accessible to fans and students alike. The idea was to reconfigure the massive instrument in to six large rack mount cases that Erik could take on tour and expose his audiences to modular synthesis, and to bring in to schools in his area to teach the science behind synthesis to kids, thus helping the Foundation fulfill its mission and extend its MoogLab reach.
With the generous help of a few crucial supporters, we are delighted to announce that the re-configuration was completed on the eve of Bob’s 76th birthday. We couldn’t have accommplished this without:
In-Kind Donation of Gear
- OSP Worlwide – OSP Worldwide is a distributor of all kinds of super high quality audio gear. They donated six 16-Space ATA Shock Mount Flight Case Effects Racks to the Bob Moog Foundation for this project. We simply couldn’t have done this without their generosity. The quality of the cases they provided has well exceeded our expectation;they are extremely well-made. The six OSP cases provide an ideal home to this unique modular synthesizer.
Rockstar Engineering Volunteers
- Amos Gaynes and August Worley- To many of you, Amos Gaynes from Moog Music needs no introduction. He is well-known in the synth community for his clear and insightful articulation of all things that involve a Moog tech. Amos understands the contemporary Moog gear inside and out as a tech and as a creator of firmware for some of the newer products. A student of mechatronics at UNC-A, he is well on his way to becoming an engineering force at Moog Music, Inc.
August Worley is an electrical engineer who shares a unique qualification with Bob Moog. August is the only person to have worked at Moog Music Buffalo, Big Briar, Inc. and Moog Music Asheville. He was part of the engineering team who helped Bob develop the Voyager. August was uniquely qualified to work on this modular project, as he formerly toured with ELP as the keyboard tech for Keith Emerson’s Monster Moog Modular. He also developed the pyrotechnics for Keith’s Moog ribbon controller.
Between the two, Amos and August have donated over 60 hours of time to the completely reconfiguration of the Wall of Doom in to its new home. They have planned, inquired and researched in order to re-wire Erik’s system. Working well into the wee hours of the morning on more than one occasion, this highly skilled team has completed the transition of this extraordinary synth just in time for it’s first appearance at Moogus Operandi on May 27th.
Many, many thanks to Amos and August — we couldn’t have done this without you! Your generous donation of talent and spirit is a tribute to the Moog legacy itself.
Musician Open to the Possibilities
- Erik Norlander – Not only does this guy rock musically, but he rocks as an open, creative spirit who is excited by new possibilities. Not every owner of a priceless custom synthesizer would agree to submit their musical centerpiece to be shipped across the country for a complete metamorphosis. Erik agreed to take the project on and he was an invaluable source of information, guidance and encouragement.
We cannot go without thanking Lana Lane, Erik’s lovely wife and musical partner. With Erik away on a consulting trip, it fell upon Lana to pack and ship over 300 pounds of modules with a considerable time constraint thrown into the mix.
This project is a tribute to the historical, musical and technical legacy of Bob Moog. Many thanks to all involved!
Over the coming months, we will be asking Amos, August and Erik to write blog posts from their unique perspectives about the Wall of Doom reconfiguration. Keep your eye out for those insights into this project.
Moog Filtered Ale to Add Buzz to BMF Fundraising
Bob Moog Foundation Unites with Asheville Brewing Company to Launch “Moog Filtered Ale”
Proceeds of Limited Edition Brew to Benefit Foundation
Asheville Brewing Company and the Bob Moog Foundation are proud to announce the launch of the limited edition Moog Filtered Ale, a pale beer named in honor of synthesizer pioneer Bob Moog. The beer will be available beginning May 27, 2010 at the Foundation’s fundraising event, Moogus Operandi featuring synthesizer wizard Erik Norlander. All profits from the sale of the beer will be donated to the Bob Moog Foundation to benefit their projects. The beer is being released in conjunction with Bob’s May 23 birthday.
Moog Filtered Ale Label by Phil Cheney
Moog Filtered Ale will be be distributed nationally and internationally in 22-ounce bottles through Asheville’s Bruisin’ Ales and will be available on tap in various locations throughout Western North Carolina. The beer will be sold from May 27 through July 31, after which it will no longer be available.
“Moog Filtered Ale is an American-style pale ale with distinctive notes of caramel and pine. It’s a very accessible beer that reflects the Moog legacy. I’ve been a fan of Bob Moog since college, and I am excited to present a beer in honor of an American pioneer,” says Doug Riley, brewer and part owner of the Asheville Brewing Company.
Asheville Brewing has been making outstanding craft beers since 1998 and has won several awards for its beers. As an active supporter of local non-profit groups they are thrilled to be working with the Bob Moog Foundation, whose work is innovative and historical. Through Moog Filtered Ale, Asheville Brewing aims to support the interactive educational programs that the Foundation is developing to teach science through music as well as the eventual creation of a Moogseum.
Asheville Pizza Company President Mike Rangel says, “We are thrilled to be working with the Bob Moog Foundation to help keep Bob’s vision and legacy alive. By donating the profits from Moog Filtered Ale, we will be supporting innovative science education through the Foundation’s MoogLab outreach project. We are proud to be joining some of the larger beer companies in supporting important educational work in our community. Moog Filtered Ale is absolutely the most exciting project our company has been involved in.”
Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation, comments, “Creating Moog Filtered Ale with the Asheville Brewing Company has been a rewarding project. We are very grateful to Mike Rangel and Doug Riley for their support of our innovative projects, which will benefit Western North Carolina and beyond. The unique partnership between the Asheville Brewing Company and the Bob Moog Foundation marks a true match of venture philanthropy and creative fundraising in a economically precarious environment. The proceeds from this project will assist us in continuing our important work.”
The colorful label for the Ale was designed by Asheville artist Phil Cheney. The label, an original graphic in vibrant shades of purple, green, and orange, shows Bob Moog leaning over a keyboard with musical notes, synthesizer knobs, and patch cables floating from his head. In the upper right hand corner of the label, “76″ commemorates Bob’s May 23 birthday.
A launch party for Moog Filtered Ale will be held on May 27, 2010, at the Orange Peel in Asheville. The event, Moogus Operandi, will feature virtuoso synthesist Erik Norlander and his massive custom modular synthesizer, affectionately called “the Wall of Doom.” An auction of Moog-inspired art will be held on eBay a week prior to the event and will conclude the night of the event.
Tickets to the event are $10 in advance and $12 at the door and can be purchased through the Orange Peel.
The Ale will be sold exclusively by Greenlife Grocery, the Orange Peel, and Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company from May 27 through May 30. Beginning May 31, Moog Filtered Ale will be available for international retail distribution in bottles exclusively through Bruisin’ Ales. It will be available on tap throughout western North Carolina.
In Memorandum: Walter Sear Joins Bob Moog in Analog Heaven
Walter Sear (1930-2010)
Bob Moog and Walter Sear at Sear Sound During Taping of "Moog" Documentary
With sadness, we reflect on the legacy of Walter Sear, who passed away April 30, 2010 from complications from a fall back in March.
Sear may be best known for his commitment to quality recording equipment, techniques and for his pioneering work with synthesizer promotion and composition. He began is career as a tuba player, performing in the pit at Radio City Music Hall during the 1950s and sold tubas of his own design. In the late 1950s, Sear purchased some theremin parts from R.A. Moog, Co, the first iteration of Bob Moog’s company, and subsequently became the first sales agent for the R.A. Moog, Co., selling theremins and theremin parts. He took on the role of Bob’s business partner, as you can read about in our Archive Advisor Brian Kehew‘s reflections below, and played a key role in Bob’s ever-important meeting with Herb Deutsch.
Sear pioneered the use and promotion of the instrument the Moog synthesizer. He devoted time and energy to educating New York City studio owners on the applications of the revolutionary instrument. He composed and performed on a custom Moog modular which he helped design and used it in numerous soundtracks from Oscar-winning best picture Midnight Cowboy to Jim Henson’s The Cube to National Lampoon’s Disco Beaver from Outer Space.
In 1970 Sear created New York’s Sear Sound recording studio, a facility renowned for its collection of vintage analog recording gear, including over 275 microphones as well as a Studer 1-inch, 2-track mastering deck that Sear converted from a 1-inch 4-track recorder used to create The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band at Abbey Studio. Sear Sound became the recording home for numerous stellar musicians including Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Wynton Marsalis, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Suzanne Vega, Sonic Youth, Steely Dan and Nora Jones, Phish, Moe and more.
Sear was committed to the integrity of sound, always with an ear to the highest quality. For him, this meant using the best vintage analog gear that could be found. He talks about his commitment to sonic integrity in the video below.
Brian Kehew, BMF Archive Advisor, Reflects on Walter Sear’s Work with Bob Moog:
In the early 1960′s, Bob Moog was making only theremins. He’d left behind the big tube/valve versions of the 1950s and was having more success selling small transistorized theremins. His only commercial salesman was Walter Sear, already an established studio owner and engineer/producer. It was at their booth at the New York School State Music Educator’s Association conference (selling brass instruments and theremins to schools) that Herb Deutsch first came across Bob Moog. At the booth, Herb connected with Bob and invited him to see some “new” music – experimental styles that introduced Bob to the world of electronic music. Later, Herb requested a custom instrument built, which Bob designed for him – the first Moog synthesizer.
All the while, Walter and Bob are trying to survive in the music business. Making mostly cheap guitar and bass amps for kids who had just discovered the Beatles. I have hundreds of pages of correspondence here between the two, as they wrote daily (no email or faxes yet!) to juggle the needs of their fledgling outfit. Thankfully, Walter kept the paperwork, as it is the only clear record of those early days – when the synthesizer was merely an odd sideline to their daily work.
Notable is Walter’s arrangement to get the custom-made “Melsinar” to the Beach Boys – Moog’s first foray into linear (ribbon) controllers – in 1966.
11/25/65 Letter from Bob to Walter Sear
6/10/65 Letter from Walter Sear to Bob Moog
6/12/66 Letter from Bob to Walter Sear
Through 1967 the little amplifiers sold in the hundreds but were so minimally profitable that the R.A.Moog Company was in clear danger of extinction. Luckily, within a year, that odd instrument, Bob’s synthesizer, would take off, selling to schools and commercial composers, and a few talented pop stars and artists. Walter remained Bob’s salesman and demonstrator for the East Coast, as he was situated in Manhattan and could show the synthesizer in his modern recording studio. In the early 1970s, Walter was officially terminated as an official representative when the company changed ownership. Walter and Bob remained lifelong friends.
There is a wonderful scene in Moog, the documentary film by Hans Fjestallad, where Bob visits Walter to reminisce in his NY studio, Sear Sound – still equipped with his giant Moog modular. This particular modular synthesizer is recognizable on many 1960s/70s “Moog records” as it has a notable Maestro Rhythm King rhythm box on top at the time. The synth is featured on Walter’s own Copper-Plated Integrated Circuit LP, Dick Hyman’s incredible Moog records, Marty Gold’s Moog Plays the Beatles, Richard Hayman’s Genuine Electric Latin Love Machine, Sean Lennon’s first album, and many more!
Bob Moog Foundation Makes Waves at NAMM
January 2010
Bob Moog Foundation Making Waves at Winter NAMM 2010
Happy 2010 to all of you from the Bob Moog Foundation! The year begins for us with big plans as we head out to Winter NAMM in Anaheim, CA next week. Our friends at Moog Music are once again sharing their booth space with us. You can find us there (Booth #6100) making waves with a new video about the Foundation and sharing some recently restored material from the tapes in Bob’s archives. We hope to see many of you there! For those of you who can’t make it, follow us on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates.
We are also proud to be co-sponsoring three events at NAMM that highlight the Moog Legacy and synthesizer history:
- Main Showcase at NAMM Features Items From Moog Exhibit
From January 14-17, the Bob Moog Foundation, in collaboration with the NAMM Museum of Making Music, will feature dozens of items taken from their exhibit Waves of Inspiration:The Legacy of Moog in the main showcase on the floor of the convention center. Of particular note, an extremely rare Eaton-Moog Multi-Touch Sensitive keyboard will be on public display for the first time. Numerous vintage instruments, photographs, articles and project notes will also be on display. The full exhibit runs at the Museum through April 30, 2010.
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Celebrating The Legacy of Vintage Keyboards Through Documentary Film
On Friday night, January 15th, from 6-8pm in the Avila Room at the Anaheim Hilton, neo-symphonic synthesist Amin Bhatia and documentary filmmaker Dianna Dilworth headline an evening exploring the evolution and impact of vintage keyboards. Amin Bhatia will be joined by Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation for a question and answer session followed by a screening of a short documentary on the making of his innovative realization of Bolero Electronica, for which he used over 70 synthesizers covering 75 years of evolution in synthesis in music. The documentary features rock legends Steve Porcaro and Patrick Moraz and Roland Founder Ikutaro Kakehashi.
Following Bhatia, Dianna Dilworth and Markus Resch of the Mellotron Archive will screen Mellodrama: The Mellotron Documentary which explores the rising and falling fortunes of the Mellotron – the first musical keyboard to “sample” the sounds of other instruments – from its birth in a California garage in the 1950s, through its dominance on concert stages in the 1970s, through its almost religious cult of followers in the 2000s. From the Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields” to Black Sabbath to Kanye West, Mellodrama traces a 50-year odyssey of musical invention, revolution, betrayal, and rediscovery.
- Panel Discussion To Explore the Impact of Bob Moog’s Work on the Music Industry Past, Present and Future as Interpreted though Museum Exhibit
On Sunday January 17th from 3-4pm in the Idea Center at NAMM, The Bob Moog Foundation and the NAMM Museum of Making Music will present a panel discussion in celebration of the premiere exhibition Waves of Inspiration: The Legacy of Moog. The
discussion will involve industry and musical luminaries in an exploration of the impact of Bob Moog’s work on the music industry as it relates to the exhibition at the NAMM Museum of Making Music public display through April 30, 2010.
The discussion will be moderated by Museum Curator Tatiana Sizonenko
Panelists include:
- Craig Anderton (Senior Editor: Harmony-Central.com, Senior Editor: EQ Magazine, Contributing Editor: Keyboard Magazine)
Herb Deutsch (collaborator on first Moog synthesizer)
Larry Fast (Synergy, Peter Gabriel)
Brian Kehew (Moog Cookbook, The Who, Exhibit Advisor)
Michelle Moog-Koussa (Executive Director, the Bob Moog Foundation)
When the Show Ends, An Exclusive Moog Tour Begins
The Museum of Making Music, in collaboration with Moog Music and the Bob Moog Foundation, is offering an exclusive tour of their exhibit Waves of Inspiration:The Legacy of Moog to NAMM attendees only. The exhibit is the first-ever public display of a rare collection of vintage instruments, photographs, diaries, schematics, catalogs and project notes from the Bob Moog Foundation Archives, along with the prototype of the first Moog modular synthesizer and much more.
On Monday, January 18, a bus will depart from Anaheim to the NAMM Headquarters (where the Museum is housed) in Carlsbad, California. Hosted by Michelle Moog-Koussa (Executive Director of The Bob Moog Foundation), Mike Adams (President, Moog Music Inc.), exhibition advisor Brian Kehew and museum staff, the tour includes lunch before departing back to Anaheim in the early afternoon. Space is limited and an RSVP is required. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Carolyn Grant at carolyng@namm.org or call 760-801-7180.
Celebrating the Moog Synthesizer with Pioneers Herb Deutsch and John Eaton
The week after NAMM, we will be at the NAMM Museum of Making Music to join electronic music pioneers Herb Deutsch and John Eaton for an evening of music and conversation regarding their collaboration with Bob Moog on two groundbreaking instruments. The event, Celebrating the Moog Synthesizer, takes place at the Museum on Saturday, January 23rd at 7pm. Tickets are available for purchase online through the Museum.
We’re off to a great start in 2010! Thank you all for your ongoing support that makes our work possible.
Announcing 2010 Bob Moog Foundation Calendar
From the Archives of Bob Moog: A Photo Retrospective Calendar for 2010
The Bob Moog Foundation has created a calendar celebrating the rich history of the Moog Legacy through vintage photos, memorabilia, quotes and information taken directly from Bob’s archive. The photos trace pivotal moments in Bob’s early career and highlight many musicians and pioneers who inspired his work. Throughout the calendar, which is laden with images of early Moog instruments, Bob’s thoughts and philosophies about his work are shared in an effort to give greater understanding to his history and path; his was one of collaboration, listening and absolute dedication to musician’s needs.
The calendar is comprised of five vintage photos of Moog himself, taken from 1958-1974. The remaining photos are of:
- Leon Theremin
- Vladimir Ussachevsky
- Herb Deutsch
- Keith Emerson
- Paul Beaver and Bernie Krause
- Isao Tomita
- Joel Chadabe
- Roger Powell
Since being published, the calendar has garnered praise, including being called “drool-worthy”:
From Mark Vail
“What a beautiful, informative, and intricately detailed document the 2010 Bob Moog Foundation Calendar is! The rarely — if ever before — seen photos are outstanding, so much so that in 2011 I may extract and frame many of them for my studio walls. On second thought, the calendar as a whole will end up in my archives; I promise no scissors will ever touch it. Also extremely cool and drool-worthy are the Moog Modular images in the background. Well done! I can hardly wait for the 2011 edition.”
From Matrixsynth (www.maxtrixsynth.com)
“I just received my copy this weekend. The calendar is a great conglomeration of images and the history of Bob Moog’s legacy. It is built to last like his instruments. The paper stock is thick! Not your cheap glossy calendar here. Highly, highly recommended. I plan to have mine framed. If you haven’t picked up a copy yet and were planning on it I recommend you do so quickly. This is THE stocking stuffer of the year in my opinion.”
The calendar was designed by graphics artist Rose Hecht in collaboration with the Bob Moog Foundaton. Through her designs, Rose pays hommage to the original Moog modular synthesizer as the instrument that spawned an industry and radically changed the face of popular music. The background of every page touts panels of knobs and patchbays — images taken from photos of an early modular that was used in Moog’s shop in the 60s. That instrument is one of the many priceless items in Moog’s archives.
The calendar is available for purchase on our online store. All proceeds go to fund our ongoing projects, including the preservation of the archives.
Preservation on Reel-to-Reel Tapes in Bob’s Archives Begins With Help of GRAMMY Foundation
Audio Preservationist Seva Ball Begins Transfer of Archive Tapes With Help of GRAMMY Foundation Funding.
Seva David Ball, setting a tape for transfer
In March of 2008, the Bob Moog Foundation was awarded an $8,000 assessment grant from the GRAMMY Foundation to assess the physical, historical, and legal viability of over 300 reel-to-reel tapes in Bob’s archives. After months of study, three experts verified and prioritized 143 tapes to cleaned and transferred.
In the summer of 2009, the Foundation was awarded a $15,000 preservation grant from the GRAMMY Foundation to begin work on the prioritized tapes. Many of the tapes have been compromised by previous unstable storage conditions and the wear and tear of time; they will need mold remediation, baking, rewinding and re-housing on new reeels before they are ready to be transferred to digital format. Audio engineer and preservationist Seva David Ball of Soundcurrent Mastering is heading the team who will complete the process on over 40 of the tapes.
Prioritized tapes include those of Roger Powell (Utopia), Chris Swanson (House composer for R.A. Moog, Co.), Harolde Bode (speaking about he Bode Frequency Shifter), Emmanuel Ghent, Sun Ra, William Hoskins and Bob himself (speaking at a variety of seminars around the birth of the prototype). Recently a very special donation was made to this collection from an early synthesizer pioneer– we’ll be telling you about it and sharing it with you next month.
The project is expected to take 6 months to complete.
Many thanks to the GRAMMY Foundation for their ongoing support! This project would not have been possible without them!
Umphrey’s McGee Rocks eBay for the Bob Moog Foundation
Midwestern Icons of Improvised Rock Auction Autographed Items for Bob Moog Foundation
In October of 2008 Umphrey’s McGee, long-time Moog enthusiasts and present day rock icons, headlined Moogfest at the Hammerstein Ball Room in New York City. Their fantastic set included keyboardist Joel Cummins swooning the crowd with his masterful playing of the Moog Voyager and Jake Cinninger blowing everybody away with his skills on the new Moog Guitar.
A few months later, in February 2009, Umphrey’s McGee and the Bob Moog Foundation joined forces to present an Umphrey’s McGee Gets Mooged-Out pre-show at MoDaddy’s in Asheville, NC. The band thrilled a packed room with all music being processed through moogerfooger effect pedals. This experimental sonic event was an incredible experience for the fans and band alike . Joel put the Moog Voyager through its paces while Jake and Brendan accompanied him on the Moog Little Phatty. Andy, Kris and Ryan were hooked up to moogerfoogers and enjoyed new realms of sonic expression. The show raised over $4,000 for the Bob Moog Foundation.
In a continuing effort to support the Bob Moog Foundation’s mission toeducate and inspire people through electronic music, and their effort tobuild a Moogseum in Asheville, NC, Umphrey’s McGee is donating the following items to be auctioned on eBay, with all proceeds going to the foundation:
Auction items include:
1.) Signed Mantis Deluxe Edition
2.) Signed Poster from September 8, 2006 St. Pat’s Park, South Bend Indiana
3.) Signed Poster from April 8, 2008 Egyptian Theatre, Dekalb, Illinois
The auction will begin today, November 2nd at Noon CT, and will only go for
seven days, so let the bidding begin!
Here are the links to the items:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130341566746#ht_500wt_1182
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130341565036#ht_500wt_1182
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130341563688#ht_500wt_1182
Many thanks to all of the guys in the band for their ongoing support and to band manager Vince Iwinski for facilitating the auction!
Live From The Mind Of Moog #6
img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-395″ title=”inside peel” src=”http://bobmoogfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/inside-peel.jpg?w=420&h=315″ alt=”inside peel” width=”420″ height=”315″ />Inside the famous Orange Peel before the crowd arrived.
Moog Foundation T-shirts at the merch booth. Have you ordered yours yet?
And here are two more cakes–a Moogerfooger and the Bob Moog Foundation logo in edible form.
August Worley, Bob Moog, and the other very important person whose name I can’t remember. Here they are designing the Minimoog Voyager some years ago.
