Special Remastered CD Release: "Anniversary Suite For The Golden Gate Bridge"
In celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge May 2012
Playing The Golden Gate Bridge
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’ 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.
CD release target date October 1, 2011.
50th Anniversary Suite For The Golden Gate Bridge
CD Track Listing1. The Golden Gate Before the Bridge
2. The Building of the Bridge
3. The Opening of the Bridge
4. The Present into the FutureGolden 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 San Francisco Synthesizer Ensemble: Scott Singer, Doug McKechnie, Paul J. de Benedictis and John Lewis (from left) in 1987
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.
Copyright McKechnie Records 2011 • All Rights Reserved