Alvin
Lucier is an American composer that was interested in new music and tape
compositions.
The
play “Nothing is Real” (1990) consists of Lucier playing fragments of the
Beatles song “Strawberry Fields Forever” on the piano while recording it on a
mini tape recorder. The play starts with very slow and deep piano sounds and
then step by step gets higher and faster regarding the sounds.
Towards
the middle of the play, Lucier closes the roof of the piano and distances
himself from the piano. He then begins to use the mini tape recorder to play
his recorded sounds. The mini tape recorder is in a teapod which is positioned
on the piano roof.
By
changing the positions of the teapot lid and by picking up and putting down the
teapot from the piano, Lucier is able to create a variety of different sounds.
The
Beatles song “Strawberry Fields Forever” is deconstructed and eventually
recreated by using new styles of music making.
In
my opinion, it is a brilliant idea to record something with a tape recorder to
then reuse it for creating new music. The basis of “Nothing is Real” stayed the
same because the piano sounds were still there. Lucier was able to take what he
already has (the piano part of the play) and add new kinds of styles to the
play.
The
second part of the play was more interesting for me because the first part,
when Lucier played the piano, was very monotonous and boring for me. He did not
have much variation in sounds and speed while playing the piano. The piano is
actually my favorite instrument but this part of “Nothing is Real” was not very
interesting and exciting for me.
I
think it is very innovative to use everyday objects to create music. Of course,
traditional instruments, such as the piano, create beautiful and interesting
sounds but I think adding and using other objects can make a play very unique
and extraordinary.
The
sounds created by the teapot are something I have never heard before and
therefore made especially this part of the play very interesting for me.
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