Syrinx (band)

Syrinx was a Canadian electronic music group active from 1970 to 1972. Propelled by the electronic music compositions and keyboard wizardry of John Mills-Cockell, the group broke musical ground with their innovative use of the Moog Synthesizer and their world music inspirations. Their song, "Tillicum", received national attention as the theme music for the television series Here Come the Seventies.

Syrinx formed in 1970, when composer and multi-instrumentalist Mills-Cockell joined forces with percussionist Alan Wells and saxophonist Doug Pringle. A progressive music trio whose body of work incorporated elements of electronica, classical and world music, and psychedelic rock, Syrinx initially played the Toronto coffee-house circuit. After a time, Canadian music executive and talent manager Bernie Finkelstein signed the trio to his newly-created True North Records.

Syrinx released its first (eponymous) album in 1970. In its wake, the group found itself newly in demand from a variety of quarters: Syrinx opened for jazz legend Miles Davis on his Bitches Brew tour, and played bills with Ravi Shankar.

In addition, the first release attracted the attention of executives from CTV, which commissioned a theme song for its forward-looking television series Here Come the Seventies. This commission resulted in Mills-Cockell composing Tillicum, which was later released as a single and was included on Syrinx’s second album.

The first album also resulted in a 1971 commission, from the respected Toronto Repertory Orchestra under the direction of Milton Barnes, of Stringspace, which Mills-Cockell composed for Syrinx, the TRO, and additional percussion. Stringspace is a 26-minute composition in four movements: Syren, December Angel, Ibisitx, and Field Hymn (Epilogue). Stringspace was performed live and broadcast on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s program Music to See in 1971.

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