The Marr Sessions - Raymond Scott - "Manhattan Research, Inc."
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Join host Libby Hanssen for this edition of The Marr Archives as we dive into the visionary, avant-garde world of Raymond Scott and his landmark double LP, Manhattan Research, Inc.
Composer, inventor, and electronic music pioneer, Raymond Scott was decades ahead of his time. Manhattan Research, Inc. collects his groundbreaking mid-century laboratory recordings, featuring early commercial jingles, haunting synthesizer prototypes, and futuristic ambient soundscapes created with his own invented instruments, including the Electronium and the Clavivox.
Because this sprawling collection spans a double album, Libby will kick off the hour with a brief introduction framing Scott’s massive impact on electronic music and pop culture. From there, she will guide us through a curated selection of highlights across the two discs—letting our high-end sound system bring out every pristine analog pulse, intricate rhythm, and otherworldly frequency in vivid detail.
Drop in, grab a drink, and experience the birth of electronic music through one of history's most eccentric geniuses!
The Marr Sessions is a series at The Listyning Room brought to you by C4RM.org and the Marr Sound Archives housed at the UMKC Library. These events represent a unique synergy between the preservation of music history and the art of modern listening. This program bridges the gap between the Marr Sound Archives at UMKC - one of the nation's premier repositories of recorded sound—and the Center for Recorded Music (C4RM), which is dedicated to the social and technical impact of audio.
With The Marr Sessions, the archives provide the "raw material" of history in the form of rare, physical artifacts, while The Listyning Room provides the "lens" through which to experience them, utilizing a world-class, high-fidelity sound system featuing equipment by Audio Note, Perlisten, and Cambridge Audio, that brings these vintage recordings to life with startling clarity.
This collaboration is particularly powerful because it transforms what is often a solitary research activity into a communal, sensory event. By bringing rare recordings out of the climate-controlled vaults and into a purpose-built social space, C4RM and UMKC are making Kansas City’s deep musical heritage accessible and visceral. It allows the public to not just learn about the past, but to hear it exactly as it was meant to be heard, fostering a deeper connection to the artists and engineers who shaped our cultural landscape.
Doors open at 6:30pm with music in the air. Doors open at 6:30 PM | Intro & Listen at 7:00 PM.
Your $10 Donation supports Center For Recorded Music 501(c)(3) and includes admission, complimentary snacks and 1 beverage including soft drinks, flavored waters, and a selection of adult beverages including beer, wine, mixed drinks, and NA versions of your favorites.
Seating at The Listyning Room is on a first-come first-seated basis. Donate in advance to secure a spot for these exclusive events. If any spots are left open, donations will be accepted at the door.
The Listyning Room is located inside the nbkc building - at 3510 W. 95th Street, Leawood, KS 66206 - on the north side of Ranch Mart. There is plenty of parking next to the building.
Composer, inventor, and electronic music pioneer, Raymond Scott was decades ahead of his time. Manhattan Research, Inc. collects his groundbreaking mid-century laboratory recordings, featuring early commercial jingles, haunting synthesizer prototypes, and futuristic ambient soundscapes created with his own invented instruments, including the Electronium and the Clavivox.
Because this sprawling collection spans a double album, Libby will kick off the hour with a brief introduction framing Scott’s massive impact on electronic music and pop culture. From there, she will guide us through a curated selection of highlights across the two discs—letting our high-end sound system bring out every pristine analog pulse, intricate rhythm, and otherworldly frequency in vivid detail.
Drop in, grab a drink, and experience the birth of electronic music through one of history's most eccentric geniuses!
The Marr Sessions is a series at The Listyning Room brought to you by C4RM.org and the Marr Sound Archives housed at the UMKC Library. These events represent a unique synergy between the preservation of music history and the art of modern listening. This program bridges the gap between the Marr Sound Archives at UMKC - one of the nation's premier repositories of recorded sound—and the Center for Recorded Music (C4RM), which is dedicated to the social and technical impact of audio.
With The Marr Sessions, the archives provide the "raw material" of history in the form of rare, physical artifacts, while The Listyning Room provides the "lens" through which to experience them, utilizing a world-class, high-fidelity sound system featuing equipment by Audio Note, Perlisten, and Cambridge Audio, that brings these vintage recordings to life with startling clarity.
This collaboration is particularly powerful because it transforms what is often a solitary research activity into a communal, sensory event. By bringing rare recordings out of the climate-controlled vaults and into a purpose-built social space, C4RM and UMKC are making Kansas City’s deep musical heritage accessible and visceral. It allows the public to not just learn about the past, but to hear it exactly as it was meant to be heard, fostering a deeper connection to the artists and engineers who shaped our cultural landscape.
Doors open at 6:30pm with music in the air. Doors open at 6:30 PM | Intro & Listen at 7:00 PM.
Your $10 Donation supports Center For Recorded Music 501(c)(3) and includes admission, complimentary snacks and 1 beverage including soft drinks, flavored waters, and a selection of adult beverages including beer, wine, mixed drinks, and NA versions of your favorites.
Seating at The Listyning Room is on a first-come first-seated basis. Donate in advance to secure a spot for these exclusive events. If any spots are left open, donations will be accepted at the door.
The Listyning Room is located inside the nbkc building - at 3510 W. 95th Street, Leawood, KS 66206 - on the north side of Ranch Mart. There is plenty of parking next to the building.
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Where is it happening?
3510 W. 95th Street, Leawood, KS, United States, Kansas 66206, 3510 W 95th St, Leawood, KS 66206-2033, United States, Prairie Village
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherCenter For Recorded Music
