Alexander Goldscheider (born 22 June 1950) is a Czech-born British composer, music producer, writer, computer specialist and photographer.

Life and career

He read music at

Charles University Charles University (CUNI; , UK; ; ), or historically as the University of Prague (), is the largest university in the Czech Republic. It is one of the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest universities in the world in conti ...

in Prague, and received a PhD for his analysis of the music of

The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...

in 1975. Initially a music writer, critic, and radio/club DJ (1968–73), he moved into songwriting and music production, becoming a staff producer at

Supraphon Supraphon Music Publishing is a Czech record label, oriented mainly towards publishing classical music and popular music, with an emphasis on Czech and Slovak composers. History The Supraphon name was first registered as a trademark in 1932. Th ...

(1976–79), where he produced a number of pop, rock, and jazz LPs of Czech singers and bands. He pioneered the use of synthesizers in Czechoslovakia and his music was released by

Panton Records Panton Records or PANTON was a Czechoslovak and later Czech record label and music publishing house of the Czech Music Fund, founded in 1968. In Czechoslovakia, it was one of the three major state-owned labels, the other two being Supraphon and ...

and

, used on TV and in films. He moved to London in 1981, recorded two solo albums (''Themes for a One-Man-Band Vol. 1 & 2''), and in 1983 worked at the

BBC Radiophonic Workshop The BBC Radiophonic Workshop was one of the sound effects units of the BBC, created in 1958 to produce Incidental music, incidental sounds and new music for radio and, later, television. The unit is known for its experimental and pioneering ...

producing his own music for radio, TV, and films. Goldscheider then co-founded a music and computer company Romantic Robot, which initially designed and sold hardware (Multiprint, Videoface, Multifaces 1, 2, 3, 128 and ST) and published software (Music Typewriter, Trans-Express, Genie, Wriggler) for

ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer developed and marketed by Sinclair Research. One of the most influential computers ever made and one of the all-time bestselling British computers, over five million units were sold. ...

Amstrad CPC The Amstrad CPC (short for "Colour Personal Computer") is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the ZX Spec ...

, and

Atari ST Atari ST is a line of personal computers from Atari Corporation and the successor to the company's Atari 8-bit computers, 8-bit computers. The initial model, the Atari 520ST, had limited release in April–June 1985, and was widely available i ...

computers. Romantic Robot became a recording label in 1991, when Goldscheider produced and released a 2-CD set of music written and performed in a Czech

concentration camp A concentration camp is a prison or other facility used for the internment of political prisoners or politically targeted demographics, such as members of national or ethnic minority groups, on the grounds of national security, or for exploitati ...

–'' Terezín: The Music 1941-44''. The set included children's opera '' Brundibár'' by

Hans Krása Hans Krása (30 November 1899 – 17 October 1944) was a Czech composer. He was killed during the Holocaust at Auschwitz-Birkenau. He helped to organize cultural life in Theresienstadt concentration camp. Life Hans Krása was born in Prague to t ...

, which has since been staged, recorded, and filmed all over the world. In addition to producing another CD (''An American in Prague – Aaron Copland conducts the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra''), Goldscheider has since concentrated on writing, performing, and producing his own compositions, recording classical singers, large choruses, and the Romantic Robot Orchestra on CDs such as ''

Stabat Mater The Stabat Mater is a 13th-century Christian hymn to the Virgin Mary that portrays her suffering as mother during the crucifixion of her son Jesus Christ. Its author may be either the Franciscan friar Jacopone da Todi or Pope Innocent III.Saba ...

'' and ''

The Song of Songs The Song of Songs (), also called the Canticle of Canticles or the Song of Solomon, is a biblical poem, one of the five ("scrolls") in the ('writings'), the last section of the Tanakh. Unlike other books in the Hebrew Bible, it is erotic poe ...

'', with occasional detours into web design. In June 2018, British record company Little Beat Different released his eponymous vinyl LP ''Alexander Goldscheider''. The first part of his memoirs ''Intended Coincidences'' was published in Prague in July 2020. Alexander Goldscheider's grandson Ben Goldscheider is also a musician. He won the Brass Category Final of the 2016

BBC Young Musician BBC Young Musician is a televised national music competition broadcast biennially on BBC Television and BBC Radio 3. Originally BBC Young Musician of the Year, its name was changed in 2010. The competition, a former member of the European Uni ...

competition, playing the French horn.

Discography and Books

* ''Themes for a One-Man-Band Vol. 1'' * ''Themes for a One-Man-Band Vol. 2''
''Undercurrents''
* '' Terezín: The Music 1941–44'' (produced) * ''An American in Prague'' (produced) * ''Stabat Mater'' * ''The Song of Songs''
''Alexander Goldscheider''

''Intended Coincidences''

Notes

References

External links

Romantic Robot

Last.fm

Discogs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldscheider, Alexander 1950 births Living people Czech composers Czech male composers Czech expatriates in the United Kingdom Musicians from Prague Writers from Prague Czech male writers Czech exiles Czech Jews Czech people of Russian-Jewish descent Charles University alumni