+ music + media + you . . . a tumblelog by Thad Anderson
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Percussionist, composer, and artistic director of the Cage Percussion Players. I teach courses in percussion, music composition and technology at the University of Central Florida.

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August 8, 2009 @ 8:50 AM
Harrison’s tin can set — again, most likely used for premier performances of Third Construction and Imaginary Landscape No. 2 (a.k.a. Fourth Construction at the premier…).  See the audio clip below.

Harrison’s tin can set — again, most likely used for premier performances of Third Construction and Imaginary Landscape No. 2 (a.k.a. Fourth Construction at the premier…).  See the audio clip below.

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August 8, 2009 @ 8:48 AM
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

This is clip of one of Lou Harrison’s sets of tin cans most likely used for premier performances of Third Construction and Imaginary Landscape No. 2 (a.k.a. Fourth Construction at the premier…).  See the photo above.

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July 31, 2009 @ 8:56 AM
Here is the photo of Harrison’s sistrum.  It’s a bit smaller than similar instruments I have seen (only about 8” long) but sounds great.

Here is the photo of Harrison’s sistrum.  It’s a bit smaller than similar instruments I have seen (only about 8” long) but sounds great.

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July 31, 2009 @ 8:52 AM
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Here is a clip of another historically important percussion instrument that Lou Harrison often used.  This is one of his sistrums that is most well known for its use in Double Music (a joint work composed by both Harrison and John Cage).  Take a look at the picture posted above.

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July 30, 2009 @ 9:46 AM
Spun-steel brake drum from the Lou Harrison Percussion Instrument Collection @ Mills College (check out the audio clip below…)

Spun-steel brake drum from the Lou Harrison Percussion Instrument Collection @ Mills College (check out the audio clip below…)

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July 30, 2009 @ 9:44 AM
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

This is a clip of an old spun-steel brake drum.  The part is likely from a Ford Model-A of the late 1920’s.  I own a set that are shaped and sound exactly like this one.  As I tweeted earlier, this is the Stradivarius of found instruments!

Listen to the length of the decay (I actually mute the drum towards the end of the clip).  Very different from the modern brake drums we are used to playing/hearing…

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