Crumb's "Makrokosmos"

[Christopher D. Purdy]

>
>This year, WSU's Contemporary Music Festival will include a performance of
>George Crumb's "Makrokosmos 1," a hands-on (hands-in) piece for amplified
>piano, metal pick and chain, etc.  The performer is a visiting artist.
>
>We don't have a 'designated-hitter' piano to use for non-traditional and
>special-effects performances so it will be done on one of the concert
>instruments, probably a Bosendorfer 225 (7'4").
>
>I'd appreciate any good advice, anecdotes, and general words of wisdom from
>folks who have dealts with this piece either as techs or performers.
>
>Regards,
>
>Alan Crane, RPT
>School of Music
>Wichita State University
>crane@twsuvm.uc.twsu.edu

alan,

as these things go, i seem to remember this one was fairly low impact.  i
seem to remember though that they had to use a specific piano for some
reason.  something to do with plate struts being in the way.  if you don't
have one already, this would be a great time to write up a set of
guidelines to give to your faculty outlining specific do's and don'ts (lots
of these).  i could fax you a copy of mine if you are interested.

i have one good story on this subject.  one of our faculty members told me
of a time that phillip glass conducted at the university and raised a stir
with some of the more conservative faculty.  during the performance, a
particularly annoyed prof picked  up a music stand from where she was
standing backstage and hurled it onto the stage.  made a helluva noise.
there was a university cop standing right there, backstage and turned to my
friend with a bored look and asked, "is that part of the piece?"

of course, glass loved it.

go figure
chris

-Christopher D. Purdy R.P.T.   School of Music  Ohio University  Athens OH

-purdy@oak.cats.ohiou.edu   (614) 593-1656    fax# (614) 593-1429