Music Engineering, 2nd Edition

5

Roll Over Beethoven – Electric instruments

Introduction

Aside from the influence upon telecommunications, the invention of the microphone, the loudspeaker and the electronic valve amplifier, brought about a revolution in the art of music making. For several centuries, a firm distinction may be made between large-scale music making – orchestras, choirs, military bands and so on and music for intimate entertainment, or chamber music. The ability to amplify instruments and solo voices meant that for the first time chamber music could become a large-scale musical activity. The cultural revolution of rock-and-roll – and later rock music – is as much about how the music is made as it is about the musicological synthesis of blues and American country ...