Composers You Should Know: Wendy Carlos

EventsComposers You Should KnowSuggested Listen
Written By Oumar Sagna, Social Media Marketing Intern

Wendy Carlos, American Composer

BORN: November 14, 1939
RAISED: Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Wendy Carlos is a transgender woman andpioneer of electronic music, making history with her album Switched-On Bach, the first electronic music album based on Bach’s compositions. Not only was Carlos awarded three Grammys for this groundbreaking album, but Switched-On Bach would go on to become the first classical album certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Carlos is hailed as a hero in both the Queer and Electronic music communities for her leadership and courageousness in her life and music career.

Youth and Early Adulthood

Born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in 1939, Wendy Carlos displayed prodigious talent in music and science from an early age. By the time she was six, she had composed her first piece of music, and her fascination with electronics soon followed. Growing up in a family that encouraged her creativity, Carlos developed a passion for both traditional classical music and the burgeoning field of electronic sound. This dual interest set the stage for her groundbreaking contributions to modern composition and recording technology.

Wendy Carlos and her project on Audionics, 1958.

Education

Carlos pursued her formal education at Brown University, where she majored in physics and music, blending her love of technology with her musical pursuits. She later earned a master's degree in music composition at Columbia University, studying under pioneers in electronic music like Vladimir Ussachevsky and Otto Luening. It was during this time that she began experimenting with the Moog synthesizer, a cutting-edge instrument that would become central to her work. Her education not only provided her with a solid foundation in classical music but also empowered her to innovate at the intersection of art and technology.

Musical Styles and Innovation

Wendy Carlos is best known for her revolutionary use of the Moog synthesizer, which she showcased in her 1968 album Switched-On Bach. This groundbreaking recording, which featured synthesizer performances of Johann Sebastian Bach's works, became a commercial and critical success, earning three Grammy Awards and popularizing electronic music in mainstream culture. Carlos’s ability to merge the precision of classical composition with the expressive potential of new technology redefined what electronic instruments could achieve. Her later works, including soundtracks for A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, and Tron, demonstrated her versatility and continued innovation in both classical and cinematic contexts.

Wendy Carlos in 1979.

Wendy Carlos with the musical synthesizer she created in 1968.

Wendy Carlos in her New York recording studio in 1979. Photo Credit: Len DeLessio.

Major Works

Please note: due to copyright issues, Wendy’s original music is difficult to find on major streaming services like YouTube and Spotify.

Switched-On Bach

ALBUM, OCTOBER 1968

A collection of pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach performed by Carlos and Benjamin Folkman on a Moog synthesizer. It played a key role in bringing synthesizers to popular music, which had until then been mostly used in experimental music.

LISTEN ON MIXCLOUD

Clockwork Orange

WENDY CARLOS’ COMPLETE ORIGINAL SCORE

ORIGINAL RELEASE: 1972. RE-RELEASED: 2000.

The album includes the complete version of Carlos's composition "Timesteps", originally intended as a lead-in to an electronic arrangement of the fourth movement to Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven.

LISTEN ON VIMEO

Influence and Legacy

Wendy Carlos’s contributions to music and technology have left an indelible mark on the industry. Her pioneering work with synthesizers inspired countless composers, from electronic music pioneers to film scorers, and cemented the Moog as a staple in modern music production. Moreover, her advocacy for innovative soundscapes has encouraged a generation of musicians to explore the boundaries of genre and medium. Though she has largely stepped back from public life, Carlos’ influence remains vital, celebrated in retrospectives and by artists who continue to draw inspiration from her groundbreaking career.

Counterpoint Concerts stands with the queer community, celebrating their diversity, resilience, and contributions. We are committed to fighting discrimination and advocating for equality, ensuring safe and inclusive spaces for all.

Oumar Sagna, Social Media Marketing Intern

Meet Oumar Sagna, Counterpoint’s Social Media Marketing intern. Based in the United Kingdom, Oumar works behind the scenes on our Marketing team, creating content for our social media, curating Spotify playlists, doing research, writing blog posts, and more. Growing up in Oxford, Oumar was able to gain a great understanding and appreciation of classical music, which he has taken forward with him into all his future musical endeavors.

Oumar has been studying the classical guitar for 12 years, the piano for 4 years, and currently works with internationally renowned guitarists at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where he studies Classics. Alongside his studies, Oumar keeps up with his passion for music by taking classes in Musical Performance, as well as working with multiple ensembles and chamber groups at university.

Oumar loves supporting Counterpoint’s efforts to connect with a wider audience and grow their community of classical music lovers, both new and old. He especially enjoys opportunities to showcase various classical works from his side of the Atlantic, and is delighted to share his passion for the world of classical music with our community.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/oumar-sagna-40538a256/
Previous

Composers You Should Know: Arvo Pärt