playing the building
Playing the Building is an installation by David Byrne in the magnificently decrepit Battery Maritime Building, which serves as the entry to the Governor's Island ferry, where I also went today, but that is another story.
The ultimate in prepared instruments, it is a sort of prepared room. An old organ is wired to various points in the building so that pressing a key strikes a pipe, radiator, pillar or other part of the building, or starts a motor.
Visitors take turns playing and creating a sound environment without prescription or repetition.
prepared pillar
prepared radiator in action
prepared pipe
Playing it was as marvelous as listening. I hope to make it back again before the exhibit is over. It was apparently irresistable to musicians as well as to the public.
Here is clarinetist and gamelonist Daniel Goode trying out one of his compositions. He said it didn't have the right voice for it.
This project is another Creative Time production, the folks that brought us Mike Nelson's installation in the Essex Street Market.
Jerry Harrison solo projects
Jerry Harrison solo projects were quite nice too, while the Tom-Tom Club was playing rather commercial stuff. The best Byrn's project was with Brian Eno "My Life In The Bush Of Ghots". And my fav Talking Heads album is "Remain In Light"
zokster
I remebre, long, long time
I remebre, long, long time ago, there was some Byrn's personality test with desert, cube, horse and flower. I know how it goes.
Very fun.
byrne - eno
i like "my life in the bush of ghosts" too. i really love the brian eno/john hassell possible musics CD. i don't know jerry harrison's projects other than the tom tom club. i'll have to check them out.