Eric Siday
Encyclopedia
Eric Siday was a composer and musician. While most commonly known for his pioneering work in electro-acoustic music
, his early career was that of a hot-jazz violinist in the London dance bands in the Roaring ’20s, including Ray Starita's Piccadilly Revels. Even then, as a young violinist, his improvised soloing style was amazingly advanced for his era. He played with a remarkably modern chromatic style, verging on atonal, often incorporating multi-stops (playing up to four notes in harmony on the violin simultaneously utilizing multiple fingers).
In 1939, he emigrated to the US. He was the first composer to systematically utilize electro-acoustic sound potential within the television
medium, particularly with his invention of the sound logo and the Musical Rorschach test
.
His now-legendary Maxwell House
"Percolator" TV commercial was one of these first innovations. He also commissioned Robert Moog
to create the first percussion synthesizer
, which he used extensively in his television work. Among his other contributions to the use of electro-acoustic music in television were numerous station IDs and commercials, including that of the National Educational Television
network (the forerunner to PBS
), the 1966 CBS
"in color" bumper, the news sounder for the ABC Radio Networks, and the 1965-1976 Screen Gems
/ Columbia Pictures Television logos.
Throughout his life, Siday was also an educator, creating many radio broadcasts about the nature of the so-called new music and new sound. In addition to his large commercial repertoire, he composed a number of extended works, both traditional and experimental. In the years before his death, he devoted considerable effort to exploring new ways in which to use electro-acoustic music in the building of special sound environments. Use of new music through practical design concepts was his forte.
, a mathematician who specialized in quantum mechanics
.
, to the promotion of musical creativity, among both professionals and gifted, underprivileged youth. His archives, which included business records, personal papers, music scores, photographs, and tapes, were donated to the New York Public Library
.
Electroacoustic music
Electroacoustic music originated in Western art music during its modern era following the incorporation of electric sound production into compositional practice. The initial developments in electroacoustic music composition during the mid-20th century are associated with the activities of composers...
, his early career was that of a hot-jazz violinist in the London dance bands in the Roaring ’20s, including Ray Starita's Piccadilly Revels. Even then, as a young violinist, his improvised soloing style was amazingly advanced for his era. He played with a remarkably modern chromatic style, verging on atonal, often incorporating multi-stops (playing up to four notes in harmony on the violin simultaneously utilizing multiple fingers).
In 1939, he emigrated to the US. He was the first composer to systematically utilize electro-acoustic sound potential within the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
medium, particularly with his invention of the sound logo and the Musical Rorschach test
Rorschach test
The Rorschach test is a psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists use this test to examine a person's personality characteristics and emotional functioning...
.
His now-legendary Maxwell House
Maxwell House
Maxwell House is a brand of coffee manufactured by a like-named division of Kraft Foods. Introduced in 1892, it is named in honor of the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. For many years until the late 1980s it was the largest-selling coffee in the U.S. and is currently second behind...
"Percolator" TV commercial was one of these first innovations. He also commissioned Robert Moog
Robert Moog
Robert Arthur Moog , commonly called Bob Moog was an American pioneer of electronic music, best known as the inventor of the Moog synthesizer.-Life:...
to create the first percussion synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, which he used extensively in his television work. Among his other contributions to the use of electro-acoustic music in television were numerous station IDs and commercials, including that of the National Educational Television
National Educational Television
National Educational Television was an American non-commercial educational public television network in the United States from May 16, 1954 to October 4, 1970...
network (the forerunner to PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
), the 1966 CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
"in color" bumper, the news sounder for the ABC Radio Networks, and the 1965-1976 Screen Gems
Screen Gems
Screen Gems is an American movie production company and subsidiary company of Sony Pictures Entertainment's Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group that has served several different purposes for its parent companies over the decades since its incorporation....
/ Columbia Pictures Television logos.
Throughout his life, Siday was also an educator, creating many radio broadcasts about the nature of the so-called new music and new sound. In addition to his large commercial repertoire, he composed a number of extended works, both traditional and experimental. In the years before his death, he devoted considerable effort to exploring new ways in which to use electro-acoustic music in the building of special sound environments. Use of new music through practical design concepts was his forte.
Family
Eric Siday was the brother of R. E. SidayR. E. Siday
Raymond Eldred Siday was an English mathematician specialising in quantum mechanics.He was the brother of Eric Siday, a pioneer of electronic music.Raymond Siday is most famous for the Ehrenberg-Siday effect....
, a mathematician who specialized in quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
.
Legacy
The Eric and Edith Siday Charitable Foundation was established in 1998 in memory of the composer Eric Siday and his wife Edith. The Foundation is dedicated, inter aliaInter Alia
-Track listing:# Inter Alia# Outfox'd # Righteous Badass # The Altogether feat. Bix, Apt, UNIVERSE ARM and Cal# The Day-to-Daily# Trouble Brewing # The Prestidigitator# The Force...
, to the promotion of musical creativity, among both professionals and gifted, underprivileged youth. His archives, which included business records, personal papers, music scores, photographs, and tapes, were donated to the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
.