Playing the Building (David Byrne)

Subject: RE: Playing the Building
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Aug 09 - 03:43 PM

Sounds fascinating. David Byrne has lots of information and photos at http://www.davidbyrne.com/art/art_projects/playing_the_building/.

Subject: RE: Playing the Building
From: Emma B
Date: 07 Aug 09 - 01:49 PM

there a video on you tube of the New York installation

Playing the Building

Subject: RE: Playing the Building
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Aug 09 - 01:43 PM

Somebody started a thread on this, I think, with links to video, but I don't remember what they called it.:-)

Subject: Playing the Building
From: Emma B
Date: 07 Aug 09 - 01:39 PM

Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne's most interesting recent works is an "interactive sound installation" at the Roundhouse venue in London. This is an old pump organ and wires known as Playing the Building, which opens in London tomorrow and runs until 31 August, after previously having been seen in New York last year and in Stockholm in 2005.

"The point of the organ is that the keys act as switches; each key is connected to a wire or cable that in turn leads to some part of the Roundhouse. As the keys are played, the cables react and there is corresponding clanging and vibration and rattling as some part of the building is hit. There is no electronic amplification and the whole sound is achieved mechanically as the building is turned into one giant instrument.
It's what Byrne calls "Victorian steam-punk technology". The 160-year-old Roundhouse building is an appropriate location"

The public will be able to wander around the room, seeing and hearing the whole thing come together. But most importantly, each member of the viewing public is invited to take a turn at the organ –
Byrne has said that the only way to truly experience the installation is by playing it."

pictures available on The Independent Music page today, sadly the link doesn't work