I fail in judging things these days, but one thing I learned from this exhibition is that there is a place that keeps making really elaborate musical boxes. It’s called Reuge and apparently is where Anri Sala is getting his ones done.. Someone else I need to send a letter to!
History of Music Machines - Smithsonian Institution
Clockwork Music - W. J. G. Ord Hume
Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments - Q. D. Bowers
The menace of Mechanical music - Sousa
Sound, Knowledge and the Immanence of Human Failure - Sulsman
Mechanical Music Instruments - Buchner
Musical Boxes - David Tallis
Bassel Organ - W. J. G. Ord Hume
An Introduction to Automatic Instruments - Fuller
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Sound Art (Beyond Music, Between Categories) - Alan Licht
Background Noise - Brandon LaBelle
The Audible Past - Jonathan Sterne
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Capturing Music - Mark Katz (“a recording in one thing, a concert is another and never the twain shall meet”)
The Medium is the Message - Marshall McLuhan
Glenn Gould Reader - ed. Tim Page
Technologies of the Self - Michel Foucalt
Mechanisms - Matthew G. Kirschenbaum
Technology as Symptom and Dream - R. Romanyshyn
During the interval of yesterday night’s show Rex Lawsan talked abut the Aeolian Hall, pioneering brand of the first famous pianolas. Leaving aside the nostalgia that comes to mind thinking about Central London in early 20th century, I really need to remember to visit it. According to wikipedia it’s located in 135-137 New Bond Street, surrounded by Burberry and Ferrari I guess.. To visit asap!
Yesterday night I went to see a concert organised by BBC 3 with BBC singers. It featured the first performance of Gabriel Jackson’s Airplane Cantata, Stravinsky’s Etude for Pianola, Conlon Nancarrow’s ”Study no 6” and more. The Pianola was “conducted” by Rex Lawson, one of the most respected performer around. It is quite funny that I found out about this concert just one hour before its start, but it really meant for me.. as it was the first time I saw a real pianola in working order. This is actually the moment I start thinking about my dissertation! It was amazing to see and listen to pianola’s rolls (some of which were fairly complicated) resonating on a Steinway grand piano.. This kind of early Pianola seats just behind the piano and, with mechanical fingers, touches the keys following the score/roll, as a human would do (well, this is what I need to discover yet!).. at the same time, all the dynamics and tempo (“rubato in the ancles as the presenter called it) were left to Rex to control.
(Here is the show on iPlayer, if you want to have a listen.)
