Jack Ellitt, Pioneer of Optical Synthesis

Jack Ellitt, the official composer of the famous animation filmmaker Len Lye, also worked on optical sound in the 1930s. Unfortunately, little testimony remains of the work of this researcher, who was passionate about the idea of “sound construction” and “electroacoustic sounds”.

On the website of Shame Film Music, which specialises in Australian experimental composers, one can find the very first recordings of Jack Elit including a primitive city symphony dating from the early 1930s.

As well as a few experiments with optical sounds drawn directly on the film and mixed with concrete sounds, which makes this example one of the earliest examples of primitive electroacoustic music, in 1931.