Alexander Goldscheider

Alexander Goldscheider
SP front cover of "A Robot is Talking to You"
SP front cover of "A Robot is Talking to You"
Background information
Born (1950-06-22) June 22, 1950 (age 74)
OriginPrague, Czechoslovakia
GenresElectronic music, Classical music, instrumental music
Occupation(s)Composer, producer,
writer, computer specialist, photographer
Instrument(s)Synthesizer, Piano, Computers
Years active1968–Present
LabelsRomantic Robot, Supraphon, Panton Records
Websitewww.romantic-robot.com

Alexander Goldscheider (born June 22, 1950) is a Czech-born British composer, music producer, writer, computer specialist and photographer.

Life and career

He read music at Charles University in Prague, and received a PhD for his analysis of the music of The Beatles in 1975.[1] Initially a music writer, critic, and radio/club DJ (1968–73), he moved into 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 his music was released by Panton Records and Supraphon,[2][3] used on TV and in films.

He moved to London in 1981, recorded two solo albums (Themes for a One-Man-Band Vol. 1 & 2),[4][5] 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,[6] which initially designed and sold hardware (Multiprint, Videoface, Multifaces 1, 2, 3, 128 and ST) and published software (Music Typewriter, Trans-Express, Genie, Wriggler) for ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, and Atari ST computers.

Romantic Robot[7] became a recording label in 1991, when Goldscheider produced and released a 2-CD set of 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),[8] 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, with occasional detours into web design.[9] In June 2018, British record company Little Beat Different released his eponymous vinyl LP Alexander Goldscheider.[10] The first part of his memoirs Intended Coincidences was published in Prague in July 2020.

Alexander Goldscheider's grandson Ben Goldscheider is also a musician. He won the Brass Category Final of the 2016 BBC Young Musician competition, playing the French horn.[11][12][13]

Discography and Books

Notes

  1. ^ "Acta Universitatis, Page 193, No. 76 (Goldscheider, Alexander: Problematika hudební formy v populární hudbě, 1975. PhDr.)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
  2. ^ a.s, SUPRAPHON. "Alexander Goldscheider - Všechna alba". Supraphonline.cz. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  3. ^ "Panton". Discogs. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  4. ^ "Alexander Goldscheider". Discogs. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  5. ^ "Alexander Goldscheider - MusicBrainz". musicbrainz.org. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  6. ^ "Romantic Robot UK Ltd - World of Spectrum". www.worldofspectrum.org. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  7. ^ "Romantic Robot - MusicBrainz". musicbrainz.org. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  8. ^ "An American in Prague". May 27, 1973. Retrieved May 27, 2019 – via Amazon.
  9. ^ "Jiri Belohlavek - Conductor". www.jiribelohlavek.com. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  10. ^ "Alexander Goldscheider - LBDISSUES002, by Little Beat Different". Little Beat Different. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  11. ^ "Ben Goldscheider". Verbier Festival. Fondation du Verbier Festival. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Praise from Barenboim delights young musician – and his grandfather". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Ben Goldscheider". Askonas Holt. Askonas Holt. Retrieved 4 August 2024.

References

  • Matzner, Antonín; Poledňák, Ivan; Wasserbeger, Igor (1990). Encyklopedie jazzu a moderní populární hudby. Part III. Československá scéna – osobnosti a soubory (Encyclopedia of Jazz and Modern Popular Music. Czechoslovak Scene – Personalities and Ensembles) (in Czech). Prague: Supraphon. p. 159. ISBN 80-7058-210-3.