Canadian composer, producer, and broadcaster, Norma Beecroft has compiled 23 transcribed interviews with prominent electroacoustic composers from the 1960s and 1970s. The book explores a variety of themes: the rise of technologies including magnetic tape to computer, the establishment of prominent electronic music studios in Europe and North America, and the unique perspectives and motivations of towering figures in 20th century music, among others.

In this book Beecroft documents an extraordinary period of time in the history of music. The post-war era exhibited an unprecedented level of creativity that brought technology to the foreground in music unlike any previous period of time. Through discussions with the featured composers Beecroft shows us how the depth and level of enthusiasm of this technological engagement defined the era.

This unique collection features discussions with composers such as Pierre Schaeffer, Iannis Xenakis, John Cage, Vladimir Ussachevsky, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Hugh Davies. Beecroft also includes several interviews with Canadian colleagues: Gustav Ciamaga, Bill Buxton, James Montgomery, Barry Truax, and Bengt Hambraeus. Beecroft’s well-informed, and thoughtful approach to each interview allows the featured composers to elaborate on their own work, and the status of electronic music at the time.