Moments Of Weightlessness

February 20, 2016 2:47 PM

The Inside-Out Piano. Pianist, inventor and performer Sarah Nicolls developed her unique ‘Inside-Out Piano’ to explore the belly of the instrument and to coax out some of its hidden sounds. In Moments Of Weightlessness, she explores the extraordinary unexpected characteristics of the instrument, moving it around the stage to gradually reveal her parallel journey into motherhood.
posted by dng (5 comments total)

I went to see this show tonight and it was absolutely incredible. Pianos are beautiful enough instruments anyway, but seeing the strings and workings of it all was a wonderful thing.

Also afterwards I bought a copy of her album, which came on a usb stick embedded in one of the keys of her first inside-out piano. This is definitely the best music format I've yet discovered.
posted by dng at 2:53 PM on February 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

Very interesting evolutionary use of the piano. I wish there were more video of the actual performance.
posted by beagle at 4:51 PM on February 20, 2016

"Inside-out piano" sounds great! Burroughs, Ballard, etc. I don't want to dis this; I enjoyed the clips a lot. But you can't turn a piano inside out. It's a machine. John Cage's prepared piano pieces were the obvious predecessor to this work. None of us experimental pianists who have had access to the piano's strings have not moved from the keys to the strings. This is easier on the grand piano, of course. On the upright, as she has done, it's a little more complicated, and she has done a wonderful job of using mechanical and electronic devices to accomplish her musical ends.
posted by kozad at 8:46 PM on February 20, 2016

It's pretty wild to see that piano swinging back and forth.
posted by Standard Orange at 12:16 AM on February 21, 2016

Loved it, thanks!
posted by Wolof at 2:27 AM on February 21, 2016 [1 favorite]