Music with Roots in the Aether: Opera for Television(1976)

Music with Roots in the Aether is a 1975 television opera by composer Robert Ashley that reimagines the medium itself. Structured as seven two-hour episodes, each section investigates and celebrates a pioneering figure in experimental music through interviews and live performances. Ashley profiles his peers—David Behrman, Philip Glass, Alvin Lucier, Gordon Mumma, Pauline Oliveros, and Terry Riley—before devoting the final episode to his own work. Blending documentary and performance art, the series captures a pivotal moment in American avant-garde music, offering intimate glimpses into the creative processes and philosophies of composers who redefined what music could be. A landmark work that treats television as a canvas for artistic exploration rather than mere broadcast.