(b Port Arthur, Ontario, 27 May 1914; d Ottawa, 3 July 1977). Canadian scientist and composer. He undertook graduate studies, specializing in nuclear physics, at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, and at the University of Birmingham; during World War II he worked on the development of radar. In 1954 he established the ELMUS Laboratory of the National Research Council, Ottawa, and thereafter gave his attention to designing electronic music instruments and to advising major Canadian studios. His design achievements include the Sackbut (1945), the Multitrack Tape Recorder (1953), the Serial Sound Structure Generator (1964) and the Sonde (1967). Among his compositions is Dripsody (1955). This short work, derived entirely from the sound of a falling drop of water, is often used in studio teaching as a model for musique concrète composition.
L. Cross: A Bibliography of Electronic Music (Toronto, 1967)
G. Young: The Sackbut Blues (Ottawa, 1989)
GUSTAV CIAMAGA