Instruments That Talk Back: Celebrating the Legacy of Don Buchla

Museum of Music Technology / EMEAPP

A Photograph of Don Buchla with an assortment of his creations from across his career. Photo courtesy of BuchlaUSA.

The Buchla EEG Conditioner Model 276 in action: a subject tries controlling a synthesizer with her mind. MEMS will be installing this system into our exhibition. Photo courtesy of The M.E.M.S. Project.

Don Buchla's original hand-drawn schematic for the Sili-Con Cello, a one-of-a-kind instrument built as a duet partner for cellist Ami Radunskaya. Photo by MMT/EMEAPP.

Recipient

Grant Year

Grant Amount $108,000

Status Forthcoming

Updated March 10, 2026

An exhibition surveys the work and impact of Don Buchla, a synthesizer pioneer and influential figure in electronic music. Encompassing performances, workshops, and lectures, the project charts a path from Buchla’s analog instruments developed in the 1960s to his digital innovations of the 2000s. It also engages with his core collaborators, including composers, engineers, and scholars, as well as contemporary artists who perform newly composed pieces using instruments Buchla designed. 

The total grant amount represents project funding plus an additional 20% in unrestricted general operating support.

Recipient

Museum of Music Technology / EMEAPP

Based in Harleysville, Pennsylvania, The Museum of Music Technology is a 33,000-square-foot complex packed with the instruments, gear, and technology that shaped modern music. From vintage synthesizers and guitar amps to rare prototypes and iconic artist-used equipment, the museum’s 19 galleries and 70 showcase exhibits offer an illuminating experience for music lovers, musicians, and gear-heads alike.

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