Alexander Goldscheider
Encyclopedia
Alexander Goldscheider (born June 22, 1950, Prague
) is a Czech
-born composer
, music producer, and computer specialist living since 1981 in London.
He read music at Charles University in Prague
, and received a PhD for the analysis of the music of The Beatles
. Initially a music writer, critic, and radio/club DJ (1968–73), he moved to songwriting and music production, becoming a staff producer at Supraphon
(1976–79), where he produced a number of pop, rock, and jazz LPs of Czech singers and bands. He pioneered the use of synthesizers in Czechoslovakia
, and recorded his own music for records (Panton Records
, Supraphon
), TV, and films.
He moved to London in 1981, recorded two solo albums ("Themes for a One-Man-Band Vol. 1 & 2"), and in 1983 worked at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
producing his own music for radio, TV, and films. Goldscheider then co-founded a music and computer company (Romantic Robot), which designed and manufactured software (music typewriter, Trans-Express, Genie, Wriggler
) and hardware (Multiprint, Videoface
, Multiface
s 1, 2, 3, 128 and ST) for Sinclair Spectrum, Amstrad CPC
, and Atari
computers.
Romantic Robot became a recording label in 1991, when Goldscheider produced and released a 2-CD set with music written and performed in a Czech concentration camp—Terezín: The Music 1941-44
. The set included children's opera "Brundibár
" by Hans Krása
, which has since been staged, recorded, and filmed all over the world. In addition to producing another CD (An American in Prague – Aaron Copland conducts the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra), Goldscheider has since concentrated on writing, performing, and producing his own compositions, recording classical singers, large choruses, and the Romantic Robot Orchestra on CDs such as "Stabat Mater
" and "The Song of Songs".
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
) is a Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
-born composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, music producer, and computer specialist living since 1981 in London.
He read music at Charles University in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, and received a PhD for the analysis of the music of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. Initially a music writer, critic, and radio/club DJ (1968–73), he moved to songwriting and music production, becoming a staff producer at Supraphon
Supraphon
Supraphon Music Publishing is a Czech record label, it is oriented mainly towards publishing classical music, with an emphasis on Czech and Slovak composers.- History :...
(1976–79), where he produced a number of pop, rock, and jazz LPs of Czech singers and bands. He pioneered the use of synthesizers in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, and recorded his own music for records (Panton Records
Panton Records
Panton Records or PANTON was a Czechoslovakian and later Czech record label and music publishing house of the Czech Music Fund, founded in 1968.In Czechoslovakia it was one of the three major state-owned labels, the other two being Supraphon and Opus....
, Supraphon
Supraphon
Supraphon Music Publishing is a Czech record label, it is oriented mainly towards publishing classical music, with an emphasis on Czech and Slovak composers.- History :...
), TV, and films.
He moved to London in 1981, recorded two solo albums ("Themes for a One-Man-Band Vol. 1 & 2"), and in 1983 worked at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
BBC Radiophonic Workshop
The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, one of the sound effects units of the BBC, was created in 1958 to produce effects and new music for radio, and was closed in March 1998, although much of its traditional work had already been outsourced by 1995. It was based in the BBC's Maida Vale Studios in Delaware...
producing his own music for radio, TV, and films. Goldscheider then co-founded a music and computer company (Romantic Robot), which designed and manufactured software (music typewriter, Trans-Express, Genie, Wriggler
Wriggler
Wrigglers can refer to:* Fishes in the family Xenisthmidae that are native to the Indian and Pacific oceans.* Mosquito larvae.* Wriggler , a computer game for the ZX Spectrum, released by Romantic Robot.*...
) and hardware (Multiprint, Videoface
Videoface
Videoface Digitiser is a video digitiser interface for Sinclair ZX Spectrum home computer. It was produced by Data-Skip from The Netherlands and later on Romantic Robot from UK in 1987. It was originally sold for GBP 69, but price dropped to 30 GBP within few years.Videoface takes signal from any...
, Multiface
Multiface
The Multiface was a hardware peripheral released by Romantic Robot UK Ltd. for several 1980s home computers. The primary function of the device was to dump the computer's memory to external storage, and featured an iconic 'red button' that could be pressed at any time in order to activate it...
s 1, 2, 3, 128 and ST) for Sinclair Spectrum, Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
, and Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
computers.
Romantic Robot became a recording label in 1991, when Goldscheider produced and released a 2-CD set with music written and performed in a Czech concentration camp—Terezín: The Music 1941-44
Terezín: The Music 1941-44
Terezín: The Music 1941–44 is a 2-CD set with music written by inmates at the Terezín concentration camp during World War II.Volume 1 contains chamber music by Gideon Klein, Viktor Ullmann, and Hans Krása; Volume 2 features the children's opera Brundibár by Krása, and songs by Ullmann and Pavel Haas...
. The set included children's opera "Brundibár
Brundibár
Brundibár is a children's opera by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krása with a libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister, originally performed by the children of Theresienstadt concentration camp in occupied Czechoslovakia...
" by Hans Krása
Hans Krása
Hans Krása was a Czech composer who was killed in the Holocaust at Auschwitz. He helped to organize cultural life in Theresienstadt concentration camp.-Life:...
, which has since been staged, recorded, and filmed all over the world. In addition to producing another CD (An American in Prague – Aaron Copland conducts the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra), Goldscheider has since concentrated on writing, performing, and producing his own compositions, recording classical singers, large choruses, and the Romantic Robot Orchestra on CDs such as "Stabat Mater
Stabat Mater
Stabat Mater is a 13th-century Roman Catholic hymn to Mary. It has been variously attributed to the Franciscan Jacopone da Todi and to Innocent III...
" and "The Song of Songs".
Discography
- Themes for a One-Man-Band Vol. 1
- Themes for a One-Man-Band Vol. 2
- Undercurrents
- Terezín: The Music 1941–44 (produced)
- An American in Prague (produced)
- Stabat MaterStabat MaterStabat Mater is a 13th-century Roman Catholic hymn to Mary. It has been variously attributed to the Franciscan Jacopone da Todi and to Innocent III...
- The Song of Songs
- On video: Mluví k vám robot (A Robot is Talking to You)