top of page

Historical

Dissertation

Electronic Music History

  • The Evolution of Electronic Musical Instruments in the United States 1972

    • PhD Dissertation, by Dr. Thomas L. Rhea

    • Awarded by George Peabody College for Teachers, now part of Vanderbilt University​​

  • Moog Universe - Strasenburgh Planetarium - Rochester, NY - November 2-3 & November 10, 1973

    • Multimedia light and sound shows - Performers L-R: Tom Lamb, Tom Rhea, Bob Moog​

  • The Evolution of Electric Musical Machines - Thomas Rhea - Courtesy CMI Company - May 8, 1974

  • 1st Annual Symposium on Electronic Music - Philadelphia Musical Academy - Andrew Rudin, Director​

  • Electronic Keyboard Music. Preserving Its History: The Story of the Electronic Arts Foundation 1976

    • by Tom Rhea, published in Contemporary Keyboard Magazine​

  • Expo: History of Electronic Musical Instruments 1976 - NAMM 75th Anniversary June 25-29, 1976​​

  • McCormick Place - Chicago, Illinois - Larry Linkin, NAMM President - Thanks to Dan Del Fiorentino

    • Sponsored by: Electronic Arts Foundation Principals: Tom Rhea, David Van Koevering, Les Trubey​

      • Nyle Steiner playing EVI prototype - Photo restorations by Matt Traum, Patchman Music

  • Accademia Musicale Chigiana -  Seminario I Nuovi Strumenti - Siena ItalyAugust 23-28, 1977

    • "Procedimenti per la generazione elettronica di eventi acustici" - August 24, 1977

      • Individual presentations by - Felice Fugazza - Thomas Rhea
  • Imoogination II - 1977​

  • Courtesy Brian Kehew - Digital restoration by Joseph Bastardo

    • Tom Rhea interviews synthesizer pioneers Chick Corea,
    • Larry Fast, Jan Hammer, Roger Powell, and Gary Wright

    • Bob Moog interview by Dominic Milano - David Luce interview by Steve Smith​

      • Dr. Thomas L. Rhea "Conducting The Interviews," for Norlin Music Inc.
  • "The Art of the Theremin" Episode - Camera Three 28'27" - May 28, 1978

    • Produced and Directed by Roger Englander - Aired on WCBS in New York City​

      • In Cooperation with the New York State Education Department

        • A Production of Robert and Shirleigh Moog

    • ​University of Maryland - Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library - Digital Collections​

      With thanks to: John R. Davis, Curator - Special Collections in Performing Arts

      • Clara Rockmore, Theremin - Nadia Reisenberg, Piano
        • Robert Sherman, Host - Bob Moog and Thomas Rhea, Invited Guests

          • Ralf Bode, Videographer - Video restoration by Matt Traum​​

  • Synchronisms: A Focus on Electronic Music - January 31-February 14, 1979

  • Hofstra University - Long Island, New York - The Emily Lowe Gallery - Emily Lowe Recital Hall

  • Coordinated by Associate Professor Herbert A. Deutsch and Assistant Professor Laura Greenberg​

    • Exhibit of vintage electronic musical instruments by The Electronic Arts Foundation​​

      • Dr. Thomas L. Rhea, President - Les Trubey & David Van Koevering, Principals

    • Electronic Music - Its Developments and its Impact - Emily Lowe Recital Hall -  February 1, 1979

      • Panelists: Robert A. Moog, Thomas L. Rhea, Vladimir Ussachevsky, Konstantin Simonovich​

        • Moderator: Herbert A. Deutsch​

    • Lecture and Concert on the ondes Martenot - Emily Lowe Hall - February 2, 1979​

      • Arlette Sibon-Simonovich​

    • Lecture-Exhibit of Early Films, Tapes, Recordings of Electronic Music - February 5, 1979​

      • Konstantin Simonovich​

    • Introduction to Computer Music - Emily Lowe Hall - February 8, 1979​

      • Charles Dodge​

  • Profile: Looking Back - Keyboard Magazine June 1984

  • The ondes Martenot - An Early Milestone in the Development of Electronic Keyboards​​​

    • By Tom Rhea

  • Turmoil in MIDI-Land: The Fast-Growing Synthesizer Industry Struggles to Implement a Standard Digital Interface - Keyboard Magazine June 1984

  • Commentary by Dave Smith, Jim Smerdel, Jim Mothersbaugh, Roger Clay, Tom Oberheim, Marco Alpert, Tom Rhea, Carmine Bonanno, Chris Albano, Will Alexander, and Ralph Phraner​​​

    • By Dominic Milano

  • The Art of Electronic Music - GPI Publications 1984

  • Compiled by Tom Darter, Edited by Greg Armbruster - originally published in Keyboard magazine

  • The History of Electronic Musical Instruments excerpted from Tom Rhea EP columns 1977-1981  â€‹
    • Thomas L. Rhea, Electronic Perspectives columns - copyright 1977-1981
  • History of Electronic Sound Modification - Harald Bode - J. Audio Eng. Soc. Vol 32, No 10. Oct 1984

    • "Special thanks go to Dave Luce and Tom Rhea for their help in providing the documentation"​

      • Various photographs courtesy Tom Rhea
  • Synthesizer Basics - Keyboard Synthesizer Library - Original Edition Vol 1 - January 1, 1985

    • Bob Moog, Roger Powell, Tom Rhea, Steve Porcaro et al - (Revised edition January 1, 1988)

  • Conference On Music in America, Smithsonian Institution - Conference Program 1985 

    • See page 7 forTradition and Technology: Old and New Music in 20th Century America​

      • Tom Rhea, Electronic Arts Foundation, Presenter & Panelist
  • Harald Bode obituary (1909-1987) - Keyboard magazine - April 1987 

    • By Tom Rhea​​

  • Reynold Weidenaar: The Telharmonium: A History of the First Music Synthesizer, 1893-1918 - (1988)

    • Computer Music Journal  Volume 12, Number 3  Fall, 1988  MIT Press Journals​

      • Thomas L. Rhea, review of Reynold Weidenaar PhD Dissertation - NYU 1988
    • Letter of support to Reynold Weidenaar's Doctoral Committee for this topic - July 26, 1982​
      • By Tom Rhea​
  • SCAN 8th Symposium on Small Computers in the Arts - Philadelphia, PA - November 11-13, 1988

    • Some Random Remarks About Music Synthesis - Thomas L. Rhea, PhD

      • Assistant Chairman, Music Synthesis Department -  Berklee College of Music - Boston MA​

  • Pioneers Panel 57'36" - 11 November 1988Videotape 88-01, 1989 SCAN Merchandise Catalog

    • Robert A. Moog - Laurie Spiegel - Don Slepian - Thomas L. Rhea, Moderator - Max V. Mathews​

      • Superior video and audio restoration by Matt Traum​

  • Music of the Electron: A Concert/Demonstration  - March 12, 1989

    • Performers/presenters: Dr. Richard C. Boulanger - Dr. Thomas L. Rhea - Berklee College of Music​

    • Talcott Mountain Center for School Involvement - Avon, Connecticut

      • Photo: Principals L-R - Robert A. Moog - Thomas L. Rhea - Donald La Salle, Director TMSC​

      • Photo: Principals L-R - Thomas L. Rhea - Robert A. Moog - Richard C. Boulanger

  • Electronic and Computer Music - SCISTAR Interactive Educational Television Network series:

    • On The Shoulders of Giants 57'12" - Talcott Mountain Center for School Involvement - 03/13/1989​

      • Video: Principals L-R - Dr. Donald P. La Salle, Host - Dr. Robert A. Moog - Dr. Thomas L. Rhea

        • Painstaking video/audio reconstruction by Matt Traum​

  • Clara Rockmore: The Art of the Theremin - 1989

    • Computer Music Journal  Volume 13, Number 1  Spring, 1989  MIT Press Journals​

      • Thomas Rhea, review of recording - Delos D/CD 1014
  • Evolution of the Keyboard Interface: The Bösendorfer 290 SE 1990

  • Recording Piano and the Moog Multiply-Touch Sensitive Keyboards 

    • Computer Music Journal  Volume 14, Number 2  Summer, 1990  MIT Press Journals​

      • Robert A. Moog - Asheville, North Carolina and Thomas L. Rhea - Boston, Massachusetts

​

  • 21st Festival International de Musique Experimentale - June 5-15,1991​

  • Palais Jacques-Coeur - Bourges, France - June 12, 1991

    • Antecedents of Electroacoustic Music: Parcours Historique et Projections
      • Tom Rhea, illustrated lecture - Simultaneous translation in French by Hugh Davies

  • Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey - (video montage excerpt) - Steven M. Martin, Director/Writer - 1993​

  • "A documentary about the inventor of the first electronic synthesizer instrument and his subsequent life after he was abducted by the KGB as well as a history of his instrument." [Tom Rhea: The Theremin could never be categorized as a "synthesizer." It is clearly an instrument in the orchestral tradition.]

    • Consultation and many still photographs courtesy Tom Rhea
  • Gayle Young: The Sackbut Blues–Hugh Le Caine: Pioneer in Electronic Music 1989(reviewed 1995)

  • ​National Museum of Science and Technology, Ottawa, Ontario K1G 5A3, Canada
  • also distributed by University of Chicago Press, 1989, 274 pages, ISBN 0-660-12006-2
    • Computer Music Journal  Volume 19, Number 4  Winter, 1995  MIT Press Journals
      • Tom Rhea, review of Gayle Young book in 1995 - Millis, Massachusetts, USA
  • A History of Early Electronic Musical Instruments 86'46" - WPI - Worcester MA 21 March 1995

  • Public lecture sponsored by the Music Department of Worcester Polytechnic Institute​

  • Illustrated with slides and audio examples (The only known video of this lecture I gave many times!)

    • Guest Speaker Dr. Tom Rhea - Dr. Frederick W. Bianchi, Director of Music Technology Research

      • Yeoman Video & Audio restoration by Matt Traum​

  • Georg and Hanne Steinmeyer Video Interview 30'40" - September 29, 2002

  • Georg Steinmeyer - A Principal Founder of the Estey Organ Museum in Brattleboro, Vermont​

  • Topics for discussion include the electronic organ(s) developed by Harald Bode for the Estey Company

    • By Dr. Tom Rhea - Peer Bode, Videography

  • Three Generations and Two Worlds of Electroacoustic Musical Instrumentation - September 29, 2002

  • Comprehensive lecture on the career of Harald Bode - Estey Organ Museum in Brattleboro, Vermont​

    • By Dr. Tom Rhea - (PDF includes images that supported this lecture)

  • Harald Bode – Pioneer - Born Hamburg, Germany (1909-1987): Three Generations and Two Worlds of Electroacoustic Musical Instrumentation Design - Graphic Triptych - June, 2003

  • The Estey Organ Museum - Brattleboro, Vermont - Georg Steinmeyer, Exhibition Director​

    • Design and printing by Lara Odell - Consultation by Peer Bode - Institute for Electronic Arts
      • Text by Dr. Tom Rhea, Music Technology Division, Berklee College of Music, Boston MA
  • Essay following the passing of Dr. Robert A. Moog 2005

  • Berklee College of Music - Music Business Journal: Volume 1 Issue 5, October, 2005 

    • Robert A. Moog - Music Business Man and Businessman 2005
      • Dr. Tom Rhea, Music Technology Division, Berklee College of Music, Boston MA
  • A Life for Sound: The Inventor Harald Bode and Electronic Music  53'40" - October 17, 2009

    • Radio Documentary by Caspar Abocab - Documentary in German - German Script

    • English voices: Harald Bode, Ralf Bode, Peer Bode, Dr. Thomas Rhea - Voiceovers of English Voices in German by: Johannes Steck, Thomas Loibl, Rahel Comtesse, Burchard Dabinnus, Andreas Neumann, Walter von Hauff - Voices in German: Irmgard Bode, Georg and Hanne Steinmeyer, Werner Meyer-Eppler, Robert Beyer, Günter Bialas, Harald Bode, Ralf Bode and others. - (Audio file below starts with moment of silence.)​​

  • Rendezblue Time Cycle Art Festival 2009

    • Burchfield Penney Art Center at BuffalState College - New York​

      • Harald Bode's Vocoder and Its Musical Legacy 55'27" -  February 7, 2009
        • By Thomas L. Rhea, PhD - Peer Bode, Videography - Don Metz, Coordinator/Host
          • Audio restoration & video enhancement by Matt Traum, Patchman Music​
  • Moogfest 2010 Asheville, North Carolina October 29, 30, 31, 2010

    • Synth History Panel: The Birth of the Minimoog -  October 30, 2010 - Moogaplex​

      • Tom Rhea et al, Panelists
  • Together Festival - Music/Art/Technology - Boston, MA - April 18-24, 2011 - David Day, Organizer​

    •  Deconstructing Dad: The Music, Machines and Mystery of Raymond Scott - by Stan Warnow
      • April 22 - Berklee College of Music - Room F12 - 1140 Boylston St. - Boston, MA 02115
      • Photo L-R: David Day - Stan Warnow - Tom Rhea - Michael Bierylo (Chair, EPD Department)
        • Photo L-R: Stan Warnow - Tom Rhea - Michael Bierylo​
          • Photo L-R: Stan Warnow - Tom Rhea​
  • Deconstructing Dad: The Music, Machines, and Mystery of Raymond Scott

  • Agreement between Tom Rhea and Raymond Scott Enterprises, inc. - August 01, 1970​
    • Nashville Branch of The Clavivox Rental Agency - Tom Rhea, Manager​
      • Marketing form letter - Nashville Division - Raymond Scott Enterprises - 1970
  • A Remembrance of David and Becky Van Koevering 2022

  • David Van Koevering's Parents - Bob Moog and David Van Koevering - Les Trubey & David Van Koevering giving clinic - Rick Powell, David Luce, Tom Rhea, and David Van Koevering boating on Tampa Bay, Florida - U. S. Patent 5,908,997 (1999)​

    • Remembrance by Tom Rhea​​​

bottom of page