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Machines
A History of Electronic Music by Jean-Michel Jarre
Brief Description
The definitive illustrated story of electronic sound, from WWI to the AI-enabled future, presented by the godfather of the genre. Jean-Michel Jarre is a true pioneer of electronic music. From his early role in electronic sound to his current work with AI, technology is at the...
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See moreThe definitive illustrated story of electronic sound, from the early twentieth century to the AI-enabled future, presented by the godfather of the genre.
The definitive illustrated story of electronic sound, from WWI to the AI-enabled future, presented by the godfather of the genre.
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Description
The definitive illustrated story of electronic sound, from WWI to the AI-enabled future, presented by the godfather of the genre.
Jean-Michel Jarre is a true pioneer of electronic music. From his early role in electronic sound to his current work with AI, technology is at the forefront of everything he does. Having amassed an extraordinary collection of electronic and electroacoustic instruments—one of the largest and most important in the world—JMJ provides the ideal raw materials for this unique illustrated book.
Machines begins in 1913 with The Art of Noises Futurist manifesto and chronicles the genre as fundamentally European, originating with Surrealism and the Bauhaus, and later shaped by radio. Detailed descriptions of more than eighty instruments—from the iconic ARP 2500 to rare, bespoke, one-off creations—illustrate shifts in electronic sound. Throughout, JMJ's personality and devotion to the electronic cause shines through, aided by biographical anecdotes and his unparalleled depth of knowledge.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780500031506
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 29 October 2026
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Thames & Hudson Ltd
Illustration: 50 Illustrations, black and white; 750 Illustrations, color
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 232.0mm
Height: 297.0mm
Weight: 0g
Pages: 368
About the Author
Jean-Michel Jarre is a French composer and one of the most influential figures in electronic music. His album Oxygène launched a career spanning twenty-two albums and 85 million sales. He is a UNESCO goodwill ambassador, was the first Western musician invited to perform in China, and has performed at locations including the Pyramids of Giza, the Sahara Desert and the Forbidden City. Jarre holds the record for the largest concert audience (3.5 million attendees), attracted 75 million people to a 2021 virtual Notre Dame performance, and headlined the closing ceremony of the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris.
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