Finding Aid for James W Beauchamp Harmonic Tone Generator and Papers, 1963-1966 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Title: James W Beauchamp Harmonic Tone Generator and Papers, 1963-1966

ID: 12/5/69

Primary Creator: Beauchamp, James W. (1937-2022)

Extent: 5.25 cubic feet

Arrangement: Organized in one series - Series 1: Harmonic Tone Generator Components and Papers.

Date Acquired: 01/14/2015. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Acoustical Society of America, Acoustics, Alumni, Class Notes, Classroom Instruction, Computer Music, Computer Science, Dissertations, Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Department, Electronic Music, Faculty, Faculty Papers, Illiac Computers, Music, School of

Formats/Genres: Experimental Music, Papers

Languages: English

The James W. Beauchamp Harmonic Tone Generator and Papers, 1963-1966 includes materials concerning Dr. James W. Beauchamp's research in acoustics, electronics, and music during his time at the University of Illinois. Includes the Harmonic Tone Generator, a voltage-controlled electronic music synthesizer, a bound copy of his dissertation, photographs, and professional publications.

James Warren Beauchamp (1937-2022) was Professor Emeritus in both the School of Music and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois. Dr. Beauchamp received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan, in 1960 and 1961 respectively. In 1965, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a PhD in electrical engineering. His dissertation was entitled Electronic Instrumentation for the Synthesis, Control, and Analysis of Harmonic Musical Tones. He worked closely with his mentor, chemist and composer Lejaren Hiller, during his PhD studies to create the Harmonic Tone Generator (HTG). The device was among the first voltage-controlled electronic music synthesizers. The HTG was used in a number of electronic music projects staged at the University of Illinois, including Salvatore Martirano's Underworld. He joined the electrical engineering faculty in 1965. Shortly after, he took a leave of absence which he spent working in Stanford's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. He returned in 1969 to his joint appoitment in electrical engineering and music. During his tenure at Illinois, he served as director of the School of Music's Experimental Music Studios, during which time he headed the Hybrid Computer Project and the Computer Music Project. Dr. Beauchamp was a fellow of both the Audio Engineering Society and the Acoustical Society of America. He was also a visiting scholar at Stanford's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics and a visiting researcher at the Institut de recherche et coordination in acoustique musique (IRCAM) in Paris.

Acoustical Society of America
Acoustics
Alumni
Class Notes
Classroom Instruction
Computer Music
Computer Science
Dissertations
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering Department
Electronic Music
Faculty
Faculty Papers
Illiac Computers
Music, School of

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: Folder of news-clippings donated on 11/16/2017.

Acquisition Source: James Beauchamp

Acquisition Method: Gift

Related Materials: For further information about other Lejaren Hiller sound recordings and personal papers please visit  the University at Buffalo's Lejaren Hiller Papers. For more information please see https://research.lib.buffalo.edu/hiller.