Ruth White (composer) facts for kids

Ruth S. White (born September 1, 1925 – died August 26, 2013) was an American composer. She was famous for her electronic music. Ruth White was a pioneer in electronic music. She explored new sounds using the Moog synthesizer. Most of her career was about making music for learning. People called her one of the most talented artists in "the new music."

Her first recordings showed off the Moog synthesizer. These included 7 Trumps From the Tarot Cards and Pinions (1968). Other early works were Flowers of Evil (1969) and Short Circuits (1970). She used the Moog and other electronic gear in surprising ways.

Ruth White's Life and Music Journey

Ruth White studied music and composition. She earned three degrees from Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania. She mainly focused on classical piano. She also learned to play the violin, cello, harp, clarinet, and horn.

Early Musical Training

Ruth was recognized as very talented from a young age. She studied with the American avant-garde composer George Antheil. White said Antheil helped her understand classical sonata form. This knowledge was key to writing longer, well-structured musical pieces.

Creating Her Own Electronic Studio

In 1964, White built her first music studio herself. This studio was shown at The Fiske Museum for Musical Instruments for many years. Later, the items moved to The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. With her own studio, White created her unique electronic music. She explored new sounds and harmonies. She did this while keeping the order and logic from her classical training.

Ruth became very interested in electronic music early on. She believed that traditional music styles had been fully explored. She felt that electronic music offered new possibilities. White also thought that much early electronic music was "chaotic." She wanted to create electronic music that made sense and had structure.

Making Music for Education

Ruth White loved making educational recordings. She started in 1955 with "Lullabies From ‘Round the World." In 1957, the Los Angeles Board of Education asked her to record music for physical education. These recordings, called "Folk Dances from ‘Round the World," were used in schools.

In 1967, she created music for a dance performance called "7 Trumps From the Tarot Card and Pinions." The show was a big success. The Los Angeles Times praised her "exciting, organically musical, electronic score." Dance Magazine also highlighted her "especially eloquent score." Her music from the show was released on Limelight Records in 1968.

Involvement in the Music Community

In 1969, Ruth White became more involved in the arts. She was elected to the Los Angeles chapter of The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS). She stayed active in NARAS for many years. In 1972, Ruth White was elected Vice President of the National NARAS board.

Exploring Darker Sounds

In 1969, she recorded Flowers of Evil. This record was based on poems by French poet Charles Baudelaire. White recited Baudelaire’s words over her electronic music. She used the Moog synthesizer to create eerie and dark sounds. This work is known for its intense and complex sound. Limelight Records also published this music.

Her next recordings were "Short Circuits" (1970) and "Klassik o’tilt" (1971). These albums showed a new direction for White. "Short Circuits" was different from her darker music. It featured original songs and synth versions of classical pieces. She used these releases to show how synthesizers could be used in classical music.

Working with Other Electronic Musicians

Because of her recordings, White was invited to record with Tonto's Expanding Head Band. Her close friend and fellow Moog composer Paul Beaver was also invited. The idea was for each musician to create a track. Then, they would send it to the next synthesist to add to it. White was part of starting this project. However, she did not record any pieces for it. The album Zero Time (1971, Embryo Records) became very famous.

Film and Educational Innovations

In 1971, Ruth White started a film company. She produced several stop-motion films. These were called "Analog Animation." They included "Garden of Delights for Kids No. 1." She also added her music to films like "Hush Little Baby" and "Space Trip." In 1971, her video "Steel" won an award at the Atlanta Film Festival. In the early 1970s, she and Paul Beaver founded The Electronic Music Association. This group held concerts to introduce people to new electronic music.

White's love for music led her back to education. She spent most of her later career creating music teaching materials for children. She also worked to bring technology into classrooms. In 1973, she produced "multi-media" projects to help children learn to read. White realized that TV had changed how children learned. She believed that audio without video would become less useful.

In 1973, she created the character Mr. Windbag. She used this character in her educational series "The Adventure of Mr. Windbag." Her work in education earned her a Parents' Choice Award in 1983. She also received a "notable recording" award from the American Library Association. Her interests led her to start a children’s book publishing company in Los Angeles. But her music was always a part of her work.

See also

In Spanish: Ruth White para niños