Berlin School — a style of electronic music that emerged in Germany in the 1970s. Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, and other pioneers of the genre. History, sound characteristics, and influence on the modern scene.
Berlin School is a style of electronic music that emerged in West Germany in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This style had a huge influence on the development of the entire electronic scene and became the foundation for genres such as ambient, synthwave, new age, and even modern techno.
History
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Berlin School arose during the flourishing of krautrock (experimental rock music) in Germany.
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Key figures included Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, and Ash Ra Tempel, who began actively using synthesizers, sequencers, and electronics instead of guitar dominance.
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Analog synthesizers such as Moog, ARP, and sequencers played a crucial role, allowing musicians to create repetitive rhythmic structures.
Sound and Features
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Sequencers and patterns: repeating cycles that gradually evolve.
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Atmosphere and space: long, meditative compositions creating a cosmic mood.
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Improvisation: artists often performed live sets where each version of a track could sound different.
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Length: tracks could last 20–40 minutes, immersing the listener in a trance.
Key Artists
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Tangerine Dream — perhaps the most famous representatives, who influenced both rock and cinematic music.
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Klaus Schulze — a former member of Tangerine Dream whose solo works became the benchmark of Berlin School.
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Manuel Göttsching (Ash Ra Tempel) — a master of guitar and electronic improvisations.
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Others: Edgar Froese, Christopher Franke, Johannes Schmoelling.
Influence on Music
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Berlin School is considered a precursor to ambient and space music.
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It laid the foundation for techno and trance, especially in terms of working with sequencers.
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Many contemporary artists, such as Steve Roach, Robert Rich, and Ian Boddy, continue the traditions of Berlin School.
Berlin School is music of travel through time and space. It combines hypnotic rhythms, cosmic atmosphere, and the philosophy of experimentation, becoming the foundation for all electronic music of the following decades.
