Ernst Krenek's Buchla Synthesizer (Part 1)

Many electronic synth freaks don’t know who Ernst Krenek was. Which isn’t particularly surprising, since the composer is known above all for his orchestra- and choir-music and for his operas. But Krenek was also involved in making tape music and electronic music. Two Buchla synths from his studio, vintage 1967, are among the oldest originals still in existence …

Along with the Buchla synthesizers, Krenek also used filter modules and tape machines. Krenek was born in Austria in 1900 and died in the US (where he had lived for many decades) in 1991.

One of those Buchla synthesizers in on display in the Krenek Institut in Krems (Lower Austria). We took a closer look …

As is obvious from the pictures, the Buchla synth is well-equipped, with a mixer, a sequencer and a reverb. Considering this fact, it surprises how small the Buchla system is in comparison to a Moog modular.