This book provides a unique critical perspective on electronic music from its inception to the present day, placing emphasis on the works as well as on the philosophical, artistic, and technical features that have shaped the music's growth. Beginning with the antecedents of electronic musicfrom the turn of the century to World War II, the book covers the design philosophy and output of the "classical" studios of the 1950s; the advent of voltage control and the resulting upsurge of creative activity; and the burgeoning field, of computer music over the past twenty years. The volume isenhanced by a bibliography and an extensive discography.