Louis (1920–1989) and Bebe Barron (1925-2008) were two American pioneers in… Read Full Bio ↴Louis (1920–1989) and Bebe Barron (1925-2008) were two American pioneers in the field of electronic music. They are credited with writing the first electronic music for magnetic tape, and the first entirely electronic film score for "Forbidden Planet".
Music Notes:
We design and construct electronic circuits which function electronically in a manner remarkably similar to the way that lower life-forms function psychologically. There is a "Cybernetics", which is concerned with the Control and Communication in the Animal and Machine. It was first propounded by Prof. Norbert Wiener of M.I.T. who found that there are certain natural laws of behavior applicable alike to animals (including humans) and electronic machines.
In scoring FORBIDDEN PLANET - as in all of our work - we created individual cybernetic circuits for particular themes and leit motifs, rather than using standard sound generators. Actually, each circuit has a characteristic activity pattern as well as a "voice".
Most remarkable is that the sounds which emanate from these electronic nervous systems seem to convey strong emotional meaning to listeners.
We were delighted to hear people tell us that the Tonalities in FORBIDDEN PLANET remind them of what their dreams sound like.
There were no synthesizers or traditions of electronic music when we scored this film, and therefore we were free to explore "terra incognito" with all its surprises and adventures.
Louis and Bebe Barron
Music Notes:
We design and construct electronic circuits which function electronically in a manner remarkably similar to the way that lower life-forms function psychologically. There is a "Cybernetics", which is concerned with the Control and Communication in the Animal and Machine. It was first propounded by Prof. Norbert Wiener of M.I.T. who found that there are certain natural laws of behavior applicable alike to animals (including humans) and electronic machines.
In scoring FORBIDDEN PLANET - as in all of our work - we created individual cybernetic circuits for particular themes and leit motifs, rather than using standard sound generators. Actually, each circuit has a characteristic activity pattern as well as a "voice".
Most remarkable is that the sounds which emanate from these electronic nervous systems seem to convey strong emotional meaning to listeners.
We were delighted to hear people tell us that the Tonalities in FORBIDDEN PLANET remind them of what their dreams sound like.
There were no synthesizers or traditions of electronic music when we scored this film, and therefore we were free to explore "terra incognito" with all its surprises and adventures.
Louis and Bebe Barron
Forbidden Planet
Louis and Bebe Barron Lyrics
Instrumental
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@TockTockTock
This is amazing for 1956. Electronic music was quite rare during that time...
@MrEggcake
The theremin was invented in 1920.
@darthmase
@MrEggcake Yeah and the Novachord and several other electric instruments too, up to 1940s, but they weren't really widely used until later in the 20th century. Tape manipulation began in 1940s in France and it took another 10-20 years before it was widely used in classical music.
It was until the invention of synthesizers before these instruments came anywhere near mainstream music.
@WocklessGamingforAnimeMoms
It only really caught on in The US with Disco and in Europe with Progressive Rock. There was also Electronic Funk/Electronic Soul Elements too but I consider that a US Branch of The Kosmiche Musik Phenomena as German Critics did (only really white critics from the US seem to draw a huge distinction between acts like Funkadelic or The Undisputed Truth and similar Bands from Europe).
@adamtondowsky6953
This predates even Delia Derbyshire and her Dr Who theme.
@vkorchnoifan
I love the movie. I love the soundtrack. Could the first electronic soundtrack be that good ? Yes. I love electronic music ever since.
@nickobrien3498
I was born in 1989 but my dad made sure I was raised on the good stuff: Forbidden Planet and Logan’s Run were staples of my childhood and are still two of my favourite films today. Imagine my disappointment when at a sci-fi film night in 2015 my friends thought Robby looked goofy and completely failed to be utterly terrified of Box.
@TarmacStuff
Great tribute to an awesome sound design team. Thank you.
@kdegru
The music was just as facinating to me as the film and definetly had this 4th grader in 1964 glued to the tv screen the whole week it aired on WOR TV on the Million Dollar Movie.
@johnthacker5246
I was 9 yrs old when this movie came out so
I sort of knew the thinking of people of that
time. When the picture started and they heard "LEO"
the lion's roar but instead of the expected music,
they heard this weird, alien sound...It must have
been the world's first "WTF?" moment.