Machines
A History of Electronic Music by Jean-Michel Jarre
Will be published approx. on 29. October 2026
Book
Hardback
368 pages
978-0-500-03150-6 (ISBN)
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.
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.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Illustrations
100 Illustrations, black and white; 300 Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 297 mm
Width: 232 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-500-03150-6 (9780500031506)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Jean-Michel Jarre is a French composer and one of the most influential figures in electronic music. His album Oxygene 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.