The Radio Science Orchestra
The Radio Science Orchestra
RSO

The Radio Science Orchestra

“Hi-Fi, Sci-Fi”

Uniting Theremin, Martenot, Moog and modular electronics, the ensemble has met with critical acclaim for its performances at TEDSummit, the Southbank Centre, London ICA, Shanghai Music Festival, Bath ICIA, UWL, the British Library, CDI Mexico and Glastonbury Festival.

The ensemble combines live musical performance, archive footage and narration to illuminate striking connections between the sounds and technologies of today and yesteryear.

 

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 LIVE

GALLERY (Rachel Hollings / TWR; Karen Eng / Bluedot; Ryan Lash / TED)

 

MUSIC

 
 
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Projects

 
 
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Music out of the Moon

An audio-visual odyssey revealing unexpected links between space exploration, Apollo 11, and the birth of electronic sound.

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Theremin 100

A centennial celebration of the world’s first successful musical instrument and its eponymous inventor, Leon Theremin.

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Theremin 100 Assets

Free assets from designer Paul Sizer, created to mark the theremin’s 100th birthday in 2020.

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The Robotic Century

A music-fuelled multimedia journey marking a century of robots (RUR, 1921) and the 100th birthday of Isaac Asimov.

 

Personnel

 

JOY SMITH

HARPS + VOX + KEYS

 

KEYPAD

BASS + ELECTRONICS

HOLLY LOWE

HARP

RUTH WALL

HARP

BRUCE WOOLLEY

VOX + GUITAR + THEREMIN

 

PAUL FOSS

DRUMS + PERCUSSION

FIACHRA MAC OIREACHTAI

KEYBOARDS + VOX

ANDY VISSER

SAXES + VOX + KEYS

 

CHARLIE DRAPER

THEREMIN + ONDES MARTENOT 

KEN HOLLINGS

NARRATION

VICTOR THE ROBOT

NARRATION

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PRESS

 

'They have composed a complex and brooding score that manages to convey the fear and paranoia like few other documentaries .... the Theremin was a central thread of the score and it is impossible to imagine Sputnik & Beyond without it. The playing was the finest I've ever heard. Disproving claims of it being an instrument of limited expression, the subtle playing here proved its worth as an instrument capable of conveying a broad range of genuine emotion.'

- Dark Star Magazine on Sputnik and Beyond

‘Memories Of The Future is a brave and highly idiosyncratic undertaking ... combining the information-rich commentary .... the music of The Radio Science Orchestra and a dense visual narrative, they manage to execute their concept with considerable panache and charm.'

- The Wire on Memories of the Future

‘Youthful theremin player Charlie Draper was a knockout, turning an instrument largely associated with sci-fi sound effects into the fully expressive voice it was intended to be when invented in 1920.'

- Time Out Magazine on Memories of the Future

 

GIGS + GUESTS

 

GIGS...

TEDSummit, Bluedot Jodrell Bank, CDI Mexico, the Southbank Centre, ICA, Shanghai Music Festival, TEDx, Bath ICIA, The British Library, Glastonbury Festival, Madame Jo Jo's, Bob Moog’s 70th, Alexandra Palace, Glastonbury Abbey, The Tardis . . .

GUESTS...

Lydia Kavina, Bob Moog, Matthew Seligman, Chris Elliott, Ben Darlow, Dave Stewart, Barbara Gaskin, Wolfgang Wild, Pete Davis, Derby Brown, Andy Nice, Marius De Vries, Miss Hypnotique, Simon Hanson, Thomas Dolby, Sally Bradshaw, Anji Britton, Cameron Craig, Grace Jones, Peter Lockett, Joel Geddes, Sarah Denton, Steve Dub, Timmy Ray, Pete Davis, Freddie Draper, Tom Visser, Dan Woo, Darren Redick, Professor Ying, Ken Hollings, Jack Woolley, Glenn Kerrigan and Polly Scattergood.

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Contact