Terry Rusling worked as an engineer on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). He was the longtime on air engineer for the Gilmour's Albums hosted by longtime CBC broadcaster Clyde Gilmour. In the early 60s, Morris Surdin, a composer working at the CBC, suggested to Rusling that he try out the electronic studio at CBC. Through Surdin, Rusling was introduced to Dr. Myron Schaeffer, to whom he submitted his first electronic compositions. He then attended the graduate seminar with Dr. Schaeffer at the Faculty of Music using the renowned studio which included instruments designed by Hugh LeCaine. He continued his and composed music in studios at the following institutions: Psycho Acoustic Institute, Ghent, Belgium , University of Utrecht , and University of Illinois.
Several of his works, including The Trains, a piece of musique concrete, were broadcast on the CBC and he composed an electronic theme for the nightly news.[1] One known public performance at computer tape music was at the Bohemian Embassy in Yorkville, Toronto. October, 1964.
His compositions are listed in International Electronic Music Catalog compiled by Hugh Davies (M.I.T. 1969). His scores were submitted to John Cage's Notations project and two items are included in the book and demonstrate his use of graphic notation. He composed incidental music for CBC radio shows such as Trains (1966)[2] a documentary program on the railroads of Canada produced by Allan Anderson and Val Clery. He also composed incidental music for the TV show Telescope's episode on Marshall McLuhan (1967). In addition to this he composed pure experimental music.
