Mother Mallard, the world's first portable synthesizer ensemble, celebrates the 30th anniversary of its electronic debut at Cornell on Sunday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m. in the Proscenium Theatre of the Center for Theatre Arts. The concert launches this year's Proscenium Concert Series.

Prior to the performance, David Borden, director of Cornell's Digital Music Program, will speak with guest Robert Moog, Cornell Ph.D. '64, a legendary figure in the world of electronic music. The preconcert discussion takes place at 7:15 p.m.

In 1969 at Barnes Hall, the ensemble premiered under the name "Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Co.," brandishing some of the latest musical technology engineered by Moog in his Trumansburg studio. Mother Mallard members worked closely with Moog and his R.A. Moog Co., which introduced a line of electronic music synthesis equipment in 1964. In 1971 the company name was changed to Moog Music Inc., which became a division of Norlin Music Inc. in 1973. In 1978 Moog moved from Trumansburg to North Carolina, where he founded Big Briar Inc., which designs and builds novel electronic music equipment. He is now the world's leading maker of theremims, instruments played by moving hands through an electromagnetic field.

For Sunday's concert, Mother Mallard premieres a new piece by Borden called The Perilous Night Companion, written for amplified prepared piano and synthesizer ensemble. This work will be played at the same time as John Cage's The Perilous Night (1944) for prepared piano, featuring Lisa Leong as soloist. Cage's music was featured in the group's first concert as well. A premier of Borden's Variations on a Theme of Philip Glass also will be performed, as well as two pieces by Steve Drews, Mother Mallard founding member, titled Almost Two Years (1971) and Ceres Motion (1973), and Borden's The Continuing Story of Counterpoint, Part Seven (1978).

Performers include Borden, Gabriel Borden, Judy Borsher, Richard Faria, Linda Fisher, Lisa Leong, Louise Mygatt, Chip Smith, Les Thimmig and Doug Wyatt.

Cuneiform Records has reissued Mother Mallard's first album on CD, titled "Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Co. 1970-1973." Copies will be available at the concert.