Browse Items (337 total)

Ella Grainger became an expert player of her husband’s compositions using the bells and steel marimba, under Percy’s tutelage, despite having no formal musical training. She played the bells on tours across America in the period 1929-33, and in…

Electronic Music Studios, Ltd, London, VCS1 (Don Banks Music Box), c.1968–69, in the Optronics Unit built by Graham Thirkell, c. early 1970s.
Collection MESS Ltd

Metal, plastic, electronic components, wood

On loan from MESS Ltd

The story…

Electronic Music Studios, Ltd, London, EMS VCS3 synthesizer, 1970

Metal, plastic, electronic components

On loan from MESS Ltd

The VCS3 is significant in that it was the first viable commercial European synthesizer. Launched in 1969 by EMS,…

Electronic Music Studios, Ltd, London, Synthi A (Suitcase VCS3), 1971

Metal, plastic, electronic components

On loan from MESS Ltd

The Synthi A was designed for portability, and was built into a Spartanite attaché case with a carry-handle.…

Electronic Music Studios, Ltd, London, EMS Vocoder, late 1970s

Metal, plastic, electronic components

On loan from MESS Ltd

EMS first released a large Vocoder in 1976, and this simplified, lower-cost, compact version was released the…

Electronic Music Studios, Ltd, London, EMS Spectre video synthesizer, 1974–75

Metal, plastic, electronic components

On loan from MESS Ltd

Designed by Richard Monkhouse of EMS, the Spectre is a hybrid video synthesizer, combining both…

Elaine Miles is an artist with a 25-year career that revolves around the ancient craft of glass making. For over 15-years Miles has embraced an intuitive approach to exploring the potential of glass as sound material (or as a source of ‘free’ form…

Ernest Thesiger was one of the closest of the many artist and musician friends that Grainger made, especially in the first decades of his career. Thesiger was an aspiring painter when he made this drawing, and later became a stage and film actor.…

The cover of the LP "Karlheinz Stockhausen: Telemusik/Mixtur", published in 1969 by Deutsche Grammophon, Germany.
German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928–2007), described as the ‘most controversial musical innovator of our time’, has influenced…

Melba’s star status was reflected in the high quality of her opera costumes. This sumptuous purple velvet robe was created by the House of Worth, the leaders of Parisian haute couture. Trimmed with ermine and lined with cream floral silk damask, this…