Recordings
Bob Ostertag’s extensive recording catalog now extends back 40 years. He has made all the recordings available as pay-what-you-like downloads since 2006. He also makes all these recordings freely available for anyone to remix or sample, as long as they give that music away also.
The British music magazine The Wire created a web page with the magazine’s own list of essential Ostertag works, along with descriptions of each piece and download links.
Since there are so many recordings, they can be sorted here by keyword. If you are new to this music, the keyword “A Beginner’s Guide” gives you a short list of essential works.
All1970-19791980-19891990-19992000-20092010-2019A Beginner's GuideAaltoAnthony BraxtonBuchlaCompositionEnsembleEnsoniqEugene ChadbouorneFred FrithGerry HemingwayImprovisedJoey BaronJohn ZornJustin Vivian BondKronos QuartetLiveMark DresserMax/MSP/JitterMike PattonOtomo YoshihdePhil MintonQueerRroseSamplerSergeSoloSynthesizer
Wish You Were Here
2010-2019, Aalto, Improvised, Live, Solo, SynthesizerGamepad controller + Aalto virtual synthesizer. 2016.
Bob Ostertag Plays the Aalto
2010-2019, Aalto, Solo, SynthesizerAalto virtual synthesizer. 2013.
A Book of Hours
2010-2019, A Beginner's Guide, Composition, Ensemble, Phil Minton, Roscoe Mitchell, Shelley Hirsch, Theo BleckmannThree virtuoso vocalists join the legendary Roscoe Mitchell. 2012.
The Surgeon General
2010-2019, A Beginner's Guide, Buchla, Rrose, SynthesizerRrose’s tekno remix of Ostertag’s 1976 work with the Buchla 200 synthesizer. 2012.
Motormouth: Bob Ostertag plays the Buchla 200e
2010-2019, Buchla, Solo, Synthesizer2011.
Motormouth Variations
2010-2019, Buchla, Rrose, SynthesizerRrose’s remix of Bob Ostertag’s Buchla 200e recording. 2011.
w00t
2000-2009, Max/MSP/Jitter, Sampler, SoloComputer game music mash-up. 2007.
Living Cinema Presents Between Science and Garbage
2000-2009, Improvised, Live, Max/MSP/Jitter, SamplerConcert recording of live cinema performance. 2004.
Fred Frith – Keep the Dog
2000-2009, Ensoniq, Fred Frith, Live, SamplerFred Frith’s 1990s touring band. 2003.
DJ of the Month
2000-2009, Improvised, Max/MSP/Jitter, Sampler, SoloSolo improvisations. 2002.
Christian Wolff – Burdocks
2000-2009, Ensoniq, Fred Frith, Live, SamplerWith Joan Jeanrenaud, Fred Frith, Gordon Mumma and others. 2001.
Verbatim, Flesh & Blood
2000-2009, Composition, Ensemble, Ensoniq, Gerry Hemingway, Improvised, Live, Mark Dresser, Phil Minton, SamplerFinal CD of the Say No More series. 2000.
PantyChrist
1990-1999, Ensemble, Ensoniq, Improvised, Justin Vivian Bond, Otomo Yoshihde, Queer, SamplerPantyChristJustin Vivian Bond, Otomo Yoshihide, and Bob Ostertag. 1999.
Dear Prime Minister
1990-1999, Composition, Ensemble, LiveA UNESCO project to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Universal Human Rights. 1998.
Like A Melody, No Bitterness
1990-1999, Ensoniq, Improvised, Sampler, SoloSolo improvisations. 1997.
House of Discipline
1990-1999, Improvised, Live, Mike Patton, Otomo Yoshihde, SamplerMike Patton, Otomo Yoshihide and Bob Ostertag live concert. 1997.
Twins!
1990-1999, Ensoniq, Otomo Yoshihde, Sampler1996.
Verbatim
Composition, Ensemble, Ensoniq, Gerry Hemingway, Improvised, Mark Dresser, Phil Minton, SamplerThird in the Say No More series. 1996.
Fear No Love
Ensoniq, Fred Frith, Justin Vivian Bond, Lynn Breedlove, Mike Patton, Queer, SampMike Patton, Justin Vivian Bond, many others. 1995.
Angelica 1994
1990-1999, Ensoniq, Fred Frith, John Zorn, SamplerFred Frith, John Zorn, and others. 1994.
All the Rage
1990-1999, A Beginner's Guide, Composition, Ensoniq, Kronos Quartet, Queer, SamplerString quartet transcriptions of a queer riot. 1993.
Say No More in Person
1990-1999, Composition, Ensemble, Ensoniq, Gerry Hemingway, Improvised, Mark Dresser, Phil MintonSecond CD in the Say No More series. 1993.
Burns Like Fire
1990-1999, Ensoniq, Queer, Sampler, SoloSolo meditations on queer riots. 1993.
Say No More
1990-1999, A Beginner's Guide, Composition, Ensemble, Ensoniq, Gerry Hemingway, Improvised, Joey Baron, Mark Dresser, Phil Minton, SamplerFirst in a 4-CD series. 1993.
Sooner or Later
A Beginner's Guide, Composition, Ensoniq, Sampler, SoloA boy in El Salvador buries his father. 1991.
Attention Span
1990-1999, Ensoniq, Fred Frith, John Zorn, SamplerFred Frith and John Zorn. 1990.
Bob Ostertag Plays the Serge! 1978-1983
1980-1989, 2010-2019, Fred Frith, Improvised, Live, Serge, Solo, SynthesizerEarly improvisations on a Serge modular synthesizer. Released byAnalog Motions (Taipei). 2014.
Voice of America
1980-1989, Fred Frith, Improvised, Phil MintonLive concerts with Fred Frith and Phil Minton. Serge synthesizer. 1981.
Getting A Head
1980-1989, Charles K. Noyes, Fred Frith3 open-reel tape decks, 6 helium balloon, Fred Frith, and Charles K. Noyes. 1980.
Fall Mountain – Early Fall
Improvised, Live, Serge, SynthesizerNed Rothenberg, Jim Katzin. Serge Synthesizer. 1979.
John Zorn – Pool
1970-1979, Eugene Chadbouorne, John Zorn, Serge, SynthesizerEarliest recording of John Zorn game music. 1979.
Eugene Chadbourne – The English Channel
1970-1979, Eugene Chadbouorne, Fred Frith, John Zorn, Live, Serge, SynthesizerFeaturing the entire East Village music scene of the late 1970s.
Anthony Braxton – Creative Orchestra (Koln) 1978
1970-1979, Anthony Braxton, Live, Serge, SynthesizerRecorded on Bob Ostertag’s first European tour. 1978.