Tag: Ondes Martenot

Categories
Jonny Greenwood

Radiohead loves Ondes Martenot

Jonny Greenwood & Thomas Bloch
Jonny Greenwood & Thomas Bloch

Did you know that Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood is one of a handful of musicians around the world that can masterfully play the Ondes Martenot? Yep.

News24.com has an article about the instrument which you may like to read. Here’s a bit to get you started:

What do Olivier Messiaen, Radiohead and Mars Attacks the movie have in common? The Ondes Martenot, an electronic keyboard that has just turned 80 and is the prequel to the synthesiser.

The instrument dates back to 1928, the brainchild of Frenchman Maurice Martenot, a cello player and wartime radio transmissions expert determined to turn the screech of airwaves into music.

Contemporary composers such as Messiaen, Pierre Boulez, Arthur Honegger and Andre Jolivet have all written for the Ondes Martenot, which produces one note of variable pitch along with weird and wonderful sounds perfect for sci-fi movies such as Mars Attacks.

But pop musicians including Radiohead and Gorillaz too are fans of the trailblazing instrument that resembles an electronic organ surrounded by several loudspeakers.

In front of the central keyboard, which produces vibrato effects, is a ribbon which the ondist plays by placing a ring on a finger, recreating the undulating frequencies of the musical saw.

You can read the full article at news24.com.

Categories
Jonny Greenwood Radiohead

Ondes Martenot


Would you like to purchase an Ondes Martenot like Jonny Greenwood uses on tour? Fortunately, Analogue Systems has them for sale for £1050 on their site. Analogue Systems were commissioned by Radiohead to reproduce the Ondes Martenot, which they have dubbed “The French Connection.” Here’s some info about it:

The French Connection was not born out of nowhere… it was commissioned during 2000 by Jonny Greenwood of the band Radiohead. Greenwood already owned an Ondes Martenot (an instrument built in 1983 by the son of Maurice Martenot) complete with all three resonators, but was nervous about performing with it, fearing that it would be damaged on tour. So he approached Martenot to purchase a second device for live use. Unfortunately for him (but fortunately for the rest of us) his instrument was one of a production run of just 50, and these were long gone – 44 to a music school in Japan, and the remaining five to other musicians.

So Greenwood approached Bob Williams, owner of Analogue Systems, to ask whether he would be prepared to design and build a replica for use with Radiohead’s existing RS Integrators. Williams accepted the challenge, and in April 2001 demonstrated a prototype to Greenwood. Following a couple of minor modifications, production began, and the first two French Connections were delivered to Radiohead in May 2001.

Check out more here.
(thanks to karolina)

Categories
Jonny Greenwood Kid A Radiohead

Jeanne Loriod

The Baltimore City Paper has an article up about Jeanne Loriod, who died last August at the age of 73. Loriod is remembered as a master at of the ondes Martenot, the same instrument (an electronic keyboard that features a ring that slides on a string) that Jonny Greenwood could be seen playing on songs like “How to Disappear Completely” and “The National Anthem.”

You may or may not know that Loriod and Greenwood were in contact with each other and were even planning a collaboration of some sort.
Jonny spoke about Loriod in an article that appeared in the New Yorker last August:

Jonny is fascinated by Olivier Messiaen, the late French composer; it is because of Messiaen that he became interested in the ondes martenot, which is featured in many of the composer’s works. “I heard the ‘Turangalîla Symphony’ when I was fifteen,” Jonny went on, “and I became round-the-bend obsessed with it. I wish I could have met him or shaken his hand. I did get to meet his sister-in-law, the ondeiste Jeanne Loriod. I’m learning Messiaen’s ‘Trois Petites Liturgies’ for a performance in London.”

To read the full Baltimore City Paper article about Jeanne Loriod, click here.
{thanks to Kallen}

Categories
Jonny Greenwood Radiohead Thom Yorke tour

Last night in Hollywood

Radiohead wrapped up their North American tour last night with a stop at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA. For the setlist and some reviews, click here.
Bull Run
Here is a statement from w.a.s.t.e. about the recently canceled Bull Run shows:

Due to extreme weather conditions and concerns for fan safety, Radiohead were forced to cancel both shows at Bull Run Park ( August 11th and 12th). The band’s current commitments do not allow for these shows to be rescheduled this year. On their return to the USA however, Washington DC will have priority. Radiohead apologized for any inconvenience and disappointment that this may have caused. All tickets purchased through w.a.s.t.e will automatically be refunded at face value. Ticket holders who purchased tickets elsewhere should contact the individual outlet for refund info.

{thanks to Amy}


The New Yorke(r)
We’ve read many articles about Radiohead over the years, but this one takes the cake hands down. We usually don’t voice our opinions on things like this, but this article is simply one of the best Radiohead articles ever. You can read it here. Also, you can read the interview writer Alex Ross did with Thom that was used for the article here. {thanks to Tyler & David}


Famous Ondes Martenot player dies; wished to perform with Radiohead
From the NY Times:

“Jeanne Loriod, whose artistry playing the ondes martenot, a rare electronic instrument known for its haunting wail, made her the instrument’s most celebrated performer, died on Aug. 3 at Juan-les-Pins, France. She was 73. Not just anybody, after all, had Ms. Loriod’s versatility. Shortly before her death, she had hoped to perform with the British pop group Radiohead.”

Jonny recently met Ms. Loriod as he stated in the above New Yorker article:

Jonny is fascinated by Olivier Messiaen, the late French composer; it is because of Messiaen that he became interested in the ondes martenot, which is featured in many of the composer’s works. “I heard the ‘Turangal?la Symphony’ when I was fifteen,” Jonny went on, “and I became round-the-bend obsessed with it. I wish I could have met him or shaken his hand. I did get to meet his sister-in-law, the ondeiste Jeanne Loriod. I’m learning Messiaen’s ‘Trois Petites Liturgies’ for a performance in London.”

{thanks to G}


More reviews
Our friends at JamBase have two reviews for you to read: 8/16/2001 Liberty State Park & 8/14/2001 Suffolk Downs.
Calling all Los Angeles Radiohead fans!
Want to help Radiohead put everything in its right place? Interested in recounting out of body experiences you’ve had at live shows, counting down all your favorite songs, quoting Thom&co. or just sharing the best of your Radiohead-related tales? Write to shon@hollywoodandvine.com shon@hollywoodandvine.com TODAY if you are interested in giving taped soapbox testimonials on why Radiohead deserve the title of “Best Band in the World.”