Album Review
Hauschka – “Prepared Piano, The” – [Karaoke Kalk]
aarbor 4/5/2006 12-inch, A Library
Volker Bertelmann is Hauschka. His is a “kinder, gentler” prepared piano than John Cage’s, more akin to Henry Cowell’s. Cowell apparently picked the strings of his piano like a zither while Cage clamped bolts and screws in between the strings along with little pieces of plastic, perhaps some chewing gum and bailing wire too. Hauschka apparently clamps wedges of leather, felt or rubber between the strings and he prepares the hammers with aluminum foil or rough film. The resulting sound is minimalistic, instrumental “haiku” and a nice respite for the ears.
2 Stones + Ginko Tree are Gamelan-like. Kreuzung brings Bartok to mind. Twins, Long Walk, Morning, + La Seine sound like Debussy or Ravel, Fernpunkt could be Satie. AArbor
you heard it 20 times on kfjc! most recently:
- 548 days ago, Max Level played Where Were You
- 1091 days ago, Ras Babo played Long Walk
- 2940 days ago, Mouthbreather played Twins
- 4127 days ago, Curtis Kimby played Gingko Tree
- 4148 days ago, Thom Ankhs played Fernpunkt
12345 S. El Monte Road Los Altos Hills, California 94022
Public Inspection File
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