Joel Chadabe

Chadabe, Joel ALBANY Joel Chadabe, 82, passed away peacefully at home, with his wife Francoise, and son Benjamin, by his side on May 2, 2021. The son of Solon and Sylvia Chadabe, he was born in New York in December 1938. Joel was a pioneer of electronic music, having developed the first major Moog Synthesizer studio and electronic music program at SUNY Albany, and later utilized the first Synclavier synthesizer. With the advance of technology, he developed interactive computer music systems for composition and performance, and created the software company Intelligent Music. In 1994, he created Electronic Music Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission to "increase public understanding of the role that electronic music, in its myriad forms and technologies, plays in our world." In 1997, Chadabe published the book Electric Sound: The Past and Promise of Electronic Music. He also released many recordings, including 'After Some Songs' and 'Many Times' He was passionate about his creative work and sharing his experience with others, through media, performing, and teaching. He was a professor emeritus from the University at Albany and also taught for many years at Bennington College, the Manhattan School of Music and until the present time at New York University. He also traveled around the world throughout his life, performing his music. In his words "For me, creating music with electronics has meant exploration, discovery, creativity, research, performance, and sharing knowledge and ideas with others in a new world of sound." He is also survived by his sister Susan Strzemien; and nieces, nephews and cousins.