Reading Rainbow, the Buchla synth’s “MARF,” and a prototype’s live debut

Hold on for a wormhole between different nerd universes. Steve Horelick, the prolific composer behind the music for Reading Rainbow, meets the classic Buchla 200, meets a new prototype of an official recreation of the Multiple Arbitrary Function Generator (MARF). Also, Star Trek. Let’s explain what those things are for those who don’t know — and talk about how you can join a special event live online.

Productions gone live, as Jlin joins Third Coast Percussion on “Vernacular”

If today is a day to celebrate good things happening in the USA, you better also be listening to the epic collaboration between Jlin and Chicago’s Third Coast Percussion. That puts the Gary, Indiana-born Jerrilynn Patton (Jlin) right up alongside Philip Glass and David Longstreth, where frankly, she totally belongs. And it’s touring.

Peter Kirn - November 4, 2026

Bana Haffar’s Ancient Future mutates memory and meaning in machines

If you feel at sea in a starless night, Ancient Future might summon charts from the ancestors, fragmented through samples and voltages, a hauntology of modular deconstruction. Bana Haffar, co-founder of Modular on the Spot in LA and Beirut Synthesizer Center in Lebanon, has an essential offering out this month.

Peter Kirn - October 13, 2026

Cook every day: read Suzanne Ciani’s 1976 Buchla Cookbook, for free

Peter Kirn - September 21, 2026

Adam Wiltzie talks about his posthumous collaboration with Jóhann Jóhannsson

Peter Kirn - September 18, 2026

otophon is a plug-in to play tones inside your head

Peter Kirn - August 14, 2026

Microtonality is the big trend of the 16th century — ask Nicolà Vicentino

Peter Kirn - May 28, 2026

Maggi Payne, photographing crystals, composing for Moog modular III, more

Peter Kirn - May 17, 2026

Disquiet’s Junto is community music making — now in its 750th edition

Peter Kirn - May 15, 2026