Comments on: Vale Tristram Cary, 1925-2008

By: Stilgherrian

Stilgherrian — Sun, 18 May 2008 04:53:00 +0000

@Kaye Fitton: We need that Master’s dissertation on the Internet, methinks!

By: Kaye Fitton

Kaye Fitton — Sun, 18 May 2008 02:49:55 +0000

I’m very sorry to hear of Tristram Cary’s death. I wrote my Master’s dissertation on Cary as a Pioneer of Electronic Music in England. It includes a catalogue of his works up until 1973 if that is of interest to anyone. I had the good fortune to be able to interview the man and access his original documents. The dissertation is descriptive and I should put it’s revision on the list of things to do when I retire. I’m sure placing Cary’s work in historical persepective could improve the 1983 version!

By: Stephen Stockwell

Stephen Stockwell — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:32:41 +0000

Okay, relax.
I too found the same answers from the same comprehensive search, but thought you may be aware of further detail, having actually known the man from Adelaide Uni.

By: Stilgherrian

Stilgherrian — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:41:35 +0000

@Stephen Stockwell: Having just conducted a comprehensive research project (i.e. I did one Google search and read 2 Wikipedia pages), I think that answer is: "No, Mr Cary did not do anything for the KPM 1000 series, but there is a connection"... One of the KPM composers, David Hewson, enrolled in a part time courses on electronic music with Tristram Cary at the Royal College of Music. Looking at the page for Mr Cary himself, his list of compositions doesn't include any KPM material. He took a different path.

By: Stephen Stockwell

Stephen Stockwell — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:57:55 +0000

Stil, do you know if Mr. Cary had any involvement in the KPM Recorded Music Library's KPM 1000 Series of greensleeve LPs from the early-to-mid seventies? This series began in 1965 and featured short instrumental pieces from contemporary composers of the time for use in television & radio programs, film and advertising. (Some of this music I actually remember from British educational programs in primary school.) Now some years ago, a nice slab of these vinyls fortuitously landed in my lap (in not at all above board circumstances, mind you) and a handful of those releases from the very early seventies, named Electrosound (by Ron Geesin), Electrosonic (Harper/Russe/St. George), Electronic Music (W. Merrick Farran/E. Vetter), The Electronic Light Orchestra (Adrian Wagner) and A Moog For All Reasons (Mike Vickers), dealt purely with experimental electronic music from a very eery, Theremin/Moogey-esque sound palette. They're like prototypes of exactly the type of sound Walter/Wendy Carlos achieved on the Clockwork Orange soundtrack, and then later refined on the soundtrack to Tron. And I can't help but think Tristram Cary couldn't have been too far away from any of it. Any leads?

By: Stephen Stockwell

Stephen Stockwell — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:07:53 +0000

Another 20th Century genius passes away.
However, I am pleased to announce I will officially not be ruining the occasion this time.

Thank you.