Center for Experimental Music
The SIUC School of Music has a history of composition via technology that extends back to the early 1960’s, when the late Robert Moog, at the beginning of his ground-breaking career, personally built his third MOOG SYNTHESIZER for the university. The Center for Experimental Music (CEM) was established in 1990 to continue this tradition into the computer age. The primary function of this CEM is the creation of original music through composition. It is currently used as a resource for students and faculty in the Music Composition program at SIUC.The Center for Experimental Music oversees an array of musical tasks, including music desktop publishing - creating scores for live performance, creating MIDI and/or digital audio performances of original music, sound processing, digital audio production, computer assisted performance, interactive processing and software development.
CEM consists of three independent (yet digitally connected) workstations, in the three separate studios in the new addition of Altgeld Hall. Although the focus of each of the three studios is somewhat different, each is a complete computer (Mac) composition facility, capable of current computer composition techniques such as digital audio production, MIDI sequencing, Desktop Publishing, MAX/MSP, ProTools, Finale, Digital Performer, etc. All composition students have free access to CEM, and the technology is integrated into the composition curriculum. SIUC Composer In Residence Frank Stemper serves as Director of the Center for Experimental Music.
Information Regarding Computer Music at SIUC
Beginning Composition (Music 280a&b 2,2) Primarily organized to teach the basics of creative writing in music, Beginning Composition incorporates within its curriculum basic information and hands-on application of computer music possibilities, i.e. using computers and synthesizers as tools to enhance musical composition. 280a teaches the basics of music desktop publishing via CODA's Finale, and 280b introduces the students to sequencing, using MOTU's Professional Performer.
Making Music With Computers (for non-credit or 1-2 hours credit)
Currently located in Altgeld Hall, The Center for Experimental Music consists of five computer based music workstations. Each "studio" has a somewhat different hardware set-up, dedicated, but not limited to, a specific task.
New Media Center
The Center for Experimental Music is part of the SIUC New Media Center, a consortium of American Universities and computer related industry. The purpose of the SIUC New Media Center is to keep current in all computer and related curricular matters, for individual and collaborative research oriented, scholarly and creative activities, and to equip SIUC graduates with the tools to enter the 20th Century. With facilities Located in the Communications Building, Faner Hall and Altgeld Hall, the SIUC New Media Center is a relatively recent venture for the university.
CEM Functions and Recent CEM Activities
The The Center for Experimental Music serves many application for the production of and research into music.
Over the past few years, SIUC's Center for Experimental Music has been involved in several musical presentations dedicated to contemporary and computer related musc. IN 1994, Frank Stemper, Director of the Center for Experimental Music, received a substancial Regional Arts Project Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to compose a large (7 hours) composition (sequence) for samplers, processors and computer. RURAL AMERICAN SOUND BITES was performed 1 October 1994 during "Arts in Celebration," a regional arts festival.