The Pretty Lady and the Electronic Musicians

An animated film in which two young electronic musicians court a lady by showing their skills in making electronic musical sounds. 15 min. (14.31)

Cartoon fairy tale about lady who is courted by musicians; she will only love the man who will create a new sound. Musician creates electronic music machine. Description of Theremin instrument. Footage of Theremin, Theremin use in films, newspaper clip.

Other musician creates pickup, amplifier, loudspeaker. Voiceover describes process. Creates Hawaiian guitar. Lady hears these new sounds from musicians. Lady is not impressed, so musicians leave to try again. Musicians experiment with different instruments and try to make them electric. Voiceover tells us that most instruments can be modernized by using electricity, describes processes.

Musician records sounds he hears in neighborhood with recording device. Sound editing. Musicians keep using different techniques; amplifiers, distortions. Discussion of amplifiers: filter, boost, reverberation, reverb, tremolo, feedbck, overdrive, distortion, fuzz. Description of synthesizers, keyboards, other musical techniques. Multitracking.

Film excerpt from motion picture “Spellbound” by American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.