Crumb's "Makrokosmos"

[Ron Nossaman]

Like there isn't already enough Crumby music out there. %-) 

Any problem with Magic Marker, or Sharpie on the strings? Which is better
(worse), Post-it wax, or permanent marker? Seems like the marker would leave
less residue. Just wondering.

Ron



At 10:50 PM 3/5/99 -0600, you wrote:
>Alan Crane wrote:
>
>>	
>>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.
>
>The first performance of both the first and second volumes of Crumb's 
>Makrokosmos together on one concert was on February 4, 1975 at your own 
>Wichita State University. The pianist was David Burge; I still have the 
>program. I performed a portion of the work at the University of Kansas a 
>few weeks later, on March 1, 1975.
>
>The work is fairly tame in terms of "prepared piano." As I recall, the 
>worst thing is that string nodes need to be marked, and some notes 
>probably need to be marked so the pianist has some "bearings" inside the 
>piano where there are no familiar black/white key patterns.
>
>In this day and age I would suggest Post-it type stickers and/or 
>_removable_ tape, neither of which were available way back when. Stickers 
>cut from the sticky part of Post-its should stick but will be easily 
>removable with little or no residue, especially if removed immediately 
>after the performance.
>
>I think this piece can be performed with no damage to the piano, dampers, 
>or strings, especially if you can suggest that only removable adhesives 
>be used.
>
>Kent Swafford
>
>
 Ron