Special News-Bulletin From Ivor Darreg, December 1957
[Typographical errors and omissions corrected 2020.0731 by Joseph Monzo.]
Now, these days, when everybody and his brother is talking about "hi-fi" -- and just lately, stereophonic sound -- I can't possibly make the confusion any worse if I sound off on the subject myself! Indeed, I may make the situation better.
I have put in literally thousands of hours studying and experimenting, and now have a laboratory right here on my presmises. So, with no need for false modesty, I can proclaim myself an authority on the subject of electronic music and sound equipment. The best present for Xmas (or any other time of year) that you could give me would be customers and clients.
I need to be advertised right now. Obviously, the easiest way to start is to ask for word-of-mouth advertising, so I am doing just that: do you know somebody who needs the services I am able to offer?
Somewhere (I haven't been able to find out just where, yet) research is being done on automatically-played electronic musical instruments--a way for composers to reach their audiences directly, and have the music sound just the way the composers intended. Help me get in on this! Then, all over the country they are wroking on new and improved electronic organs, as well as instruments like the Theremin. I would like to function as consultant in the development of these new instruments--they definitely are in need of advice from the composer's and musician's angle. And did you know that electronic organs are now outselling pianos in the music stores? And sales are expected to go up even further soon?
Since my health is not of the best, and I don't have my own transportation, I will have to pursue most of my activities at home, which is why I have established a laboratory and research consulting service under the name Electronic Music Enterprises. Now it is possible that someone would like to co-ordinate their efforts with mine in one way or another--certainly it won't hurt to ask about. As several of my friends have been telling me the last few months, the most important thing is contact: if I can't find just the associates I want among my immediate circle of acquaintances, they know somebody who knows somebody who...and a little simple arithmetic will show that at the fifth or sixth degree of acquaintanceship, everybody in North America would be reached!
Having stated my main interests, I come now to sidelines and by-products: I have given lectures and held discussion meetings from time to time, and this has resulted in quite a list of articles and publications. Some have appeared in magazines, as I have recounted elsewhere; about 25 booklets are available from me directly, and I'm busy getting out a new list of them, which will be sent around after the first of the year. In fact, most of you have heard about me this way, so if you were in doubt as to which were my first-fiddle and second-fiddle "strings to my bow," I hope this clears it up. Most of my interests are related through being part of the field of audible communcation -- certainly my occupation with languages and translation would come under this heading. Then, a while ago I wanted to hold some discussions with people about becoming a better composer -- and since other kinds of art, science, and invention have so much in common with composing, I decided on a series of creativity meetings, and these have resulted in booklets on creativity which have sold quite a number of copies, so now I seek a publisher. I would be quite willing to "farm out" some of these subsidiary acitvities in one way or other, so if you have any ideas, send them in! I am no farther away than your mailbox and your telephone. To paraphrase the old typewriting exercise, Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of
IVOR DARREG
Composer and Research Consultant, Electronic Music Enterprises