.a...i..or.

Last night was an incredibly rare performance of John Cage's HPSCHD. After seeing the production, it's understandable why it's mounted so rarely - it's really a monumental task. 7 harpsichords, video projections and electroacoustic sounds. And what you end up with is really more of a cocktail party with bizarre background music. It's more of an event to experience, rather than music to listen to.

I did at one point sit down and close my eyes and focus on what I was hearing, dissecting the various layers of sound. What I heard was talking and the electronic music. I couldn't hear a single harpsichord note!

I do wish I'd brought my camera, but there were lots there, so I'm sure I'll find some pictures to post. I recorded lots of audio samples, which I'll edit up and post, as well as an interesting conversation with composer Emily Hall and Continuum's artistic director Jennifer Waring, in the car on the way home.

I think the conclusion the three of us came up with is that it's a piece that belongs to its time, and doesn't work well outside of its context as a musical or philosophical work. Mounting it in 2008 seems more of a celebration of what it and Cage were. But it's still something really cool to have taken part in, and something I might never get a chance to do again.

More later.