The ANS Synthesizer: A Soviet Masterpiece of Electronic Music The ANS Synthesizer is an electronic musical instrument developed by the Russian engineer Yevgeny Alexandrovich Murzin between 1937 and 1957. The name ANS is derived from the composer Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin. The ANS is a photoelectric synthesizer based on the graphical synthesis of sound. This means that sound is generated by drawing scores onto a coding panel. The coding panel is a light-sensitive plate on which pitch, volume, and other sound parameters can be defined. The ANS Synthesizer was the first synthesizer developed in the Soviet Union. It was a milestone in the history of electronic music and had a significant influence on the development of the Soviet music scene.
How the ANS Synthesizer works
The ANS Synthesizer consists of two main parts: the coding field and the sound generator. The coding field is a light-sensitive plate on which the pitch, volume, and other sound parameters can be set. The coding field is divided into a grid of 120 x 120 points, with each point representing a specific pitch or parameter.
To generate a sound, a score is drawn onto the coding field. The score consists of a series of lines and points that define the pitch, volume, and other sound parameters. The coding field is then scanned by a light beam. A photosensor converts the light beam into electrical signals, which are transmitted to the sound generator. The sound generator then produces the corresponding sound.
Sounds of the ANS Synthesizer
The ANS Synthesizer can generate a wide range of sounds, from simple melodies to complex soundscapes. The sound of the ANS is often soft and fluid, but it can also be harsh and dissonant. The ANS was used by a number of Soviet composers, including Stanislav Kreichi, Alfred Schnittke, Edison Denisov, and Sofia Gubaidulina. Edward Artemiev also used the ANS for his film scores, including the music for films by Andrei Tarkovsky.
Influence
The ANS Synthesizer was a major milestone in the history of electronic music. It was the first synthesizer developed in the Soviet Union and had a significant impact on the development of the Soviet music scene.
The ANS synthesizer also influenced the development of electronic music in the West. Western composers and musicians discovered the synthesizer, and it inspired them to explore new experimental soundscapes.
The ANS Synthesizer today
The ANS Synthesizer is a rare instrument today. Only a few units remain worldwide, held by museums or private individuals. The ANS is a unique instrument with a distinctive sound. It is an important piece of music history and a testament to Soviet innovation.
Here are some examples of well-known pieces recorded using the ANS Synthesizer:
“Klaviertrio Nr. 1” Stanislav Kreichi
“Symphony Nr. 6” Alfred Schnittke
“Symphony Nr. 3” Edison Denisov
“Sonate for Violine und ANS” Sofia Gubaidulina
“Sun, moon and a star” Edward Artemiev
ANS Synthesizer as Audio Software
The ANS synthesizer is now available as software, and it sounds quite good. You can download the software from the website www.warmplace.ru. We were responsible for the production and creative concept of the soundtrack for the comic *The Fantastic Adventures of Kalevi Finduson* and chose the ANS software as the central instrument. The entire soundtrack is based on the whimsical sounds of the ANS synthesizer. To make the sounds tonal and harmonize them with other instruments, the ANS soundscapes were routed through a vocoder that played the corresponding harmonies.