Slight OT: Forbidden Planet

[CCartCat at aol.com]

Vague Information:  While not (as I recall) as broadly informative as the 
aforementioned interviews,  there was an interview of Bebe Barron in a book 
called Incredibly Strange Music put out by REsearch.   Most memorable point 
was use of self-destructive circuits, recording and altering the sounds on 
tape.  Circuits were based on Norbert Weiner's (name correct??) cybernetic 
principles.

To make this all the more vague, there were two volumes of ISM and I'm not 
sure which had this particular interview in it.  However, both volumes are 
worth skimming thru (stuff on Dick Hyman, Esquivel, Perrey, Moog-based pop 
instrumental records) and yes actually reading if you're a musical omnivore.

Gratuitous personal observation:  It's interesting that though it was 
union/studio machinations that got the Barrons' music recatagorized, the 
music does operate at times as sound design that reinforces the story as well 
as music. 
 

Somewhat informatively,
Kevin


In a message dated 10/28/99 6:37:50 PM :

<<Hello,


Audities interviewed Bebe Barron two years ago. She and husband Louis used

electronic circuits of their own design along with musique concrete

techniques...they predated Pierre Schaeffer by a couple of years in this.


The high spots for me were:


A. They used NO manufactured equipment with the exception of a HP oscillator

in the later days. There is *zero* Theremin used.


B. They were never able to complete duplicate their circuits, which along

with...


C. ....they got the best sounds from their circuits "just as they were about

to blow up"...makes for a pretty provocative working method.


D. The union forbade them from using the word "music" in the credits.

Instead "electronic realizations" was used.


E. Shortly after the film's release, the union had them black-balled and

"Forbidden Planet" was the last Hollywood film that they worked on.


Bebe is a warm, bubbly person with great memories of doing "the work" with

her husband. She currently lives in Hollywood and recently watched a

screening of "Phantom Menace" with Don Buchla. She loved it, Don hated it.

:-)


dave.

>>