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Butterfly in the Skylab: An Evening With Reading Rainbow Composer Steve Horelick
Composer Steve Horelick presents an evening of conversation and live performance centered on the creation of the iconic Reading Rainbow theme song, “Butterfly in the Sky.” While Steve composed the music for all 155 episodes of the PBS series Reading Rainbow, this presentation focuses specifically on the theme—its origins, structure, and the role Buchla instruments played in shaping its sound. Steve will break down his compositional process and share insights into how the piece evolved from early electronic sketches into one of the most recognizable themes in children’s television.
The talk will be followed by a quadraphonic, live improvised performance using Steve’s Buchla Easel and 200e Skylab systems. Before performing, Steve will walk the audience through his setup and discuss how he integrates classic Buchla modules with modern digital tools, including contemporary DAW workflows. Video projections by PYXL8R will accompany Steve's performance.
There is no admission fee but donations are encouraged. Seating is limited, so please contact us if you have signed up and can no longer attend so we can make your seats available to others.
STEVE HORELICK
Steve Horelick is an award-winning composer, sound designer, and electronic music performer whose work spans television, film, and live performance. An early encounter with a Buchla 100 system sparked a lifelong engagement with Buchla instruments, shaping both his compositional voice and performance practice. As a member of the Electronic Art Ensemble, he helped pioneer live electronic concert performance. For television, Horelick composed music for more than 350 episodes of PBS children’s programming, including all 155 episodes—and the iconic theme song “Butterfly in the Sky”—for Reading Rainbow. More info can be found at stevehmusic.com.
This event is part of EMEAPP/MMT's special exhibition Instruments That Talk Back: Celebrating the Legacy of Don Buchla. Funding for this exhibition has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. We are deeply grateful for their support.