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This week for #SonicFriday we're celebrating one of the most influential musical innovations of the 20th century: the #FairlightCMI.
In this thread we'll be taking a look at some of the iconic songs the Fairlight was used on.
In this thread we'll be taking a look at some of the iconic songs the Fairlight was used on.
The Fairlight CMI was the first commercially available digital synth that allowed people to sample external sounds.
Broken glass, footsteps, buzzing insects, cocking rifles: any sound in the world could become music! https://vimeo.com/130568354
Broken glass, footsteps, buzzing insects, cocking rifles: any sound in the world could become music! https://vimeo.com/130568354
The Fairlight arrived in our museum in 2017, kindly donated by musician and producer Robin Scott.
This is one of the first objects specifically acquired for the new Sound Technologies collection.
This is one of the first objects specifically acquired for the new Sound Technologies collection.
Can you hear this sweet sound at the beginning of San Jacinto by @itspetergabriel?
Sorry Marimba purists, but it’s not a real marimba. It’s a sound produced by a Fairlight.
Sorry Marimba purists, but it’s not a real marimba. It’s a sound produced by a Fairlight.
What made the Fairlight a mainstay of electronic music was the sampling function: the opportunity to incorporate any type of sound into music.
This is how the famous breaking-glass noise in Babooshka by @KateBushMusic was created.
This is how the famous breaking-glass noise in Babooshka by @KateBushMusic was created.
The Fairlight quickly moved beyond the realm of music, and it became one of the most powerful allies in producing sound effects.
The BBC Radiophonic Workshop used it to create unusual sounds, combining musical instruments with other noises.
The BBC Radiophonic Workshop used it to create unusual sounds, combining musical instruments with other noises.
The unique rhythmic sound of Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood arose through experimentation with the Fairlight.
In this song, it was used in combination with a Linn Drum machine.
In this song, it was used in combination with a Linn Drum machine.
The Fairlight played a key role in the sonic experiments of @artofnoiseoffic, a synth-pop group formed by J.J. Jeczalik and Trevor Horn in early 1983.
In Moments of Love, they created new patterns using sounds from existing recordings.
In Moments of Love, they created new patterns using sounds from existing recordings.
The Fairlight was very helpful in pre-production too. Musicians could play around with ideas before deciding to introduce real acoustic instruments in their music.
This was the case of @petshopboys working with Liza Minnelli at Abbey Road.
This was the case of @petshopboys working with Liza Minnelli at Abbey Road.
ORCH2, one of the sounds available in the pre-recorded library, was sampled from an orchestral recording of Stravinsky.
After being used by Afrika Bambaataa, it turned to be one of the most ubiquitous sounds of hip-hop.
After being used by Afrika Bambaataa, it turned to be one of the most ubiquitous sounds of hip-hop.
From the 1990s, more accessible synths and samplers hit the market, offering crisper variations of ORCH2.
The sound effect 'Orchestra Hit' crossed the path of 90’s pop stars such as @britneyspears or @backstreetboys.
The sound effect 'Orchestra Hit' crossed the path of 90’s pop stars such as @britneyspears or @backstreetboys.
Are you curious to discover more? You can find the full playlist in our blog! https://blog.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/fairlight-cmi-playlist/
This is just part of the digital sampling story and you can help us to write even more.
Do you sample? Tell us how you started and why!
Do you sample? Tell us how you started and why!
