The New Radiophonic Workshop

In 1958 the BBC radiophonic workshop was established. it's aim was to create new sounds, music and sound effects for BBC programmes. it quickly became the most important electronic music studio in the UK, creating innovative, ground breaking work in often very mainstream and visible ways. it's most famous creation is probably the doctor who theme music, although it is known as much for the pioneering work of the individuals who worked there including the rare opportunity for women such as Daphne Oram, and Delia Derbyshire to experiment as equals.

It finally closed its doors in 1998 after a slow decline brought on in part by the democratisation, and mass production of electronic components, synthesizers and computers. its reputation though remains unequalled in britain, if not the world.

In 2012 as part of thespace.org, an innovative new digital arts media service created in joint partnership between the BBC and the arts council the radiophonic workshop is being reborn.

Instead of being confined to rooms full of equipment in Maida Vale studios in London, the new radiophonic workshop will instead be a virtual institution, visibly manifested as an online portal and forum for discussion around the challenges of creating new sounds in a world saturated in innovative music technology but lacklustre in terms of actual original output. we will primarily bring together two key disciplines: music composition and software design and as such its members will be drawn from the cutting edge of both.

More information including details of new members, commissions and opportunities will be published in due course.

Matthew Herbert
Creative Director

History

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radiophonic_Workshop
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/39f0d457-37ba-43b9-b0a9-05214bae5d97
http://whitefiles.org/rws/
http://whitefiles.org/rwg/

Mailing List

Contact

Email: info@thenewradiophonicworkshop.com
Twitter: @theradiophonic