San Francisco Synthesizer Ensemble

Special Remastered CD Release: "Anniversary Suite For The Golden Gate Bridge"

Plus the New "A Day in the Life of the Golden Gate Bridge" 2012 Single

In celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge May 27, 2012

Playing The Golden Gate Bridge

The San Francisco Synthesizer Ensemble (SFSE) has re-issued their 1987 CD "50th Anniversay Suite for the Golden Gate Bridge" Get the Album at iTunes HERE

Playing the Golden Gate Bridge like a ‘musical instrument’ was the inspiration behind Doug McKechnie, Michael Phillips and Arnie Lazarus stealing onto the Bridge around midnight in August of 1975 and capturing the sounds of the bridge with Arnie’s new invention, the FRAP: Flat Response Audio Pickup. Twelve years later, after the invention of the EMAX sampler keyboard, McKechnie and his composer-colleagues of the San Francisco Synthesizer Ensemble were able to play the bridge as a musical instrument, creating their Anniversary Suite for the Bridge’s 50th Birthday on May 27th, 1987. This CD showcases the original Suite as well as the actual ‘Sounds of the Golden Gate Bridge.’

In 1975 Doug McKechnie and a small group of musicians, scientists and inventors leased the Golden Gate Bridge between 2 and 4 a.m. for $13.50 an hour and recorded the sounds of striking the vertical cables, guard rails, light posts, and the main suspension cable with a wooden mallet. Their dream to “play the bridge” was inspired by the cover of the first issue of Musicworks Magazine featuring artist David Wills’ drawing of an alien robot plucking the bridges’ cables like a harp.

12 years later, with the invention of the EMAX sampling keyboard, McKechnie gathered ‘The San Francisco Synthesizer Ensemble’ (SFSE) together to complete the dream and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge in 1987. Each musician in the band composed a piece of music inspired by the bridge, some pieces using the “sounds of the bridge itself.” Also showcased on this CD are some of the original recording from 1975 and a demo of “Playing the Golden Gate Bridge.” This remastered reissue CD is dedicated to the memory of Scott Singer.

SFSE has released a new piece of music, “A Day in the Life of the Golden Gate Bridge,” using only the sounds from the Bridge itself. Go to iTunes and check it out HERE

The 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge inspired the San Francisco Synthesizer Ensemble to revisit the idea of creating a unique piece of music for the celebration. Not content with simply duplicating what they had done 25 years earlier, Doug McKechnie and Paul de Benedictis realized that digital technology has advanced to the point where it has become possible to create a complex piece of music of symphonic scale using only the sounds of the Bridge and its environs. Back onto the span with their trusty Flat Response Audio Pickup in hand and a new digital recorder, McKechnie & de Benedictis sampled anew the various parts of the bridge.

Digital technology today allows the Ensemble to take the sounds of the main cable, the vertical cable ‘strings,’ the guard rails, the main tower, even the light stanchions and the sounds of the movement of vehicles crossing the span, and meld them together, multiplying and dividing harmonics and overtones inherent in the bridge itself, to tease out the extraordinary musical elements of the bridge. The result is enchanting, enormous and exciting.

NEWS:

NEWS FLASH: SFSE has released an iPhone and iPad app "Play The Golden gate Bridge" Check it out HERE

• SFSE has released "A Day in the Life of the Golden Gate Bridge" — a new peice of music celebrating the Bridge's 75th Anniversary, Go to iTunes and check it out HERE. It's also on cdbaby.com

• The remastered '50th Anniversary Suite' CD is released at CDbaby: HERE. Artist bios of the musicians are HERE. Get the Digital Download Album at iTunes HERE or at Amazon.com HERE

• The '50th Anniversary Suite' CD is also now available at the new 75th Anniversary Golden Gate Bridge Pavilion Store located at the south end of the Bridge.

• Scroll down to see some historical photos...and videos and read a written history of the 'recording' of the Bridge by Doug McKechnie

Watch this space in the near future for more historical video, photos, and music download links....

50th Anniversary Suite For The Golden Gate Bridge
CD Track Listing

1. The Golden Gate Before the Bridge
2. The Building of the Bridge
3. The Opening of the Bridge
4. The Present into the Future

Golden Gate Bridge Demo:
5. First Bridge Recording August ‘75
6. The Sounds of the EMAX Synthesizer
7. Playing the Golden Gate Bridge
8. The Ambient Sounds of the Golden Gate Bridge

The CD was recorded and mixed by the band, and mastered by Michael Romanowski. “The Golden Gate Before the Bridge” by Doug McKechnie; “The Building of the Bridge” by Paul J. de Benedictis (de Benedictis Music/BMI); “The Opening of the Bridge” by John Lewis; The Present into the Future” by Scott Singer. Produced by Doug McKechnie & Paul J. de Benedictis. Cover art ‘Robot Playing the Bridge’ by David Wills.

PHOTO: The San Francisco Synthesizer Ensemble: Scott Singer, Doug McKechnie, Paul J. de Benedictis and John Lewis (from left) in 1987

1987 San Francisco Chronicle article, by Carl Nolte. View Large Version
In 1987 The San Francisco Synthesizer Ensemble sampled the Golden Gate Bridge and created a 4-part suite of music for the Bridge's 50th Anniversary celebration. This is one of the news stories that covered the vent: NBC New with Tom Brokaw. In 1986 the San Francisco Synthesizer Ensemble performed live at 'Theater Artaud' (Z Space) in San Francisco. These are some clips from the performances. "Ponty's Theme" is by Scott Singer.

Some Historical Photos:

Doug McKechnie with Moog Synthesizer at the 'Altamont Concert' with the Rolling Stones, 1969 Doug McKechnie with Moog Syntesizer in San Francisco, 1971

Paul J. de Benedictis with his Chroma Synthesizer at Doug Mckechnie's studio, San Francisco 1982 The issue of Musicworks Magazine that featured David Wills' artwork, 1975

The San Francisco Synthesizer Ensemble, Live at Theater Artaud, San Francisco 1986

left to right: Paul J. de Benedictis, John A. Lewis, Doug Mckechnie, and in front Scott Singer

For more information contact Doug McKechnie (510) 910-3684 EMAIL: dougmck [at] pacbell.net


1987 San Francisco Chronicle article, by Carl Nolte. View Large Version	In 1987 The San Francisco Synthesizer Ensemble sampled the Golden Gate Bridge and created a 4-part suite of music for the Bridge's 50th Anniversary celebration. This is one of the news stories that covered the vent: NBC New with Tom Brokaw.	In 1986 the San Francisco Synthesizer Ensemble performed live at 'Theater Artaud' (Z Space) in San Francisco. These are some clips from the performances. "Ponty's Theme" is by Scott Singer.


Doug McKechnie with Moog Synthesizer at the 'Altamont Concert' with the Rolling Stones, 1969	Doug McKechnie with Moog Syntesizer in San Francisco, 1971

Paul J. de Benedictis with his Chroma Synthesizer at Doug Mckechnie's studio, San Francisco 1982	The issue of Musicworks Magazine that featured David Wills' artwork, 1975