Ecological Experimentation

"I don't think I've ever played an instrument like this before!" Ruby exclaimed, brushing the open piano strings with a branch from the nearby hemlock tree. Musicology & Ethnomusicology Ph.D. students Gabe and Ruby improvised on the piano with various object they found around the instrument, including sticks, rocks, and even the key plates that, as a result of all the recent rain, have become unglued from the keys. In the style of John Cage's prepared pianos, Gabe placed various items on the strings – a rock, a loose damper, a plastic key plate – to create different timbral effects as he played on the keys. Ruby walked around the piano case with the hemlock branch, brushing the needles against the outer case, on the open lid, and across the strings.

It's only been about a month since installation, but already the piano is showing signs of environmental wear. The veneer is discolored and peeling, nearly all of the plastic key plates have separated from the keys, and the string tunings are slowly wandering away from their original equal temperament frequencies.

Days in place: 34

Weather: clear skies around sunset, 50°F