He was acutely aware that a violin or a drum kit has a history. Someone might tell you that you aren't playing it properly. If you are playing an arc welder no one can tell you that you're doing it wrong. If you go to a scrapyard and find what is deemed detritus you can act freely with it.
Friday, December 10, 2010
A wonderful metaphor
This is Richard Wilson speaking about Paul Burwell, as quoted in a Wire article about the Bow Gamelan Ensemble, the music and performance group Burwell and Wilson founded with Anne Bean in 1983. Emphasis is mine.
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4 comments:
Free your arc welder, and your mind will follow!
I wish I knew an arc welder so I could tell him that he's doing it wrong.
welding has a self-teaching aspect to it that drum kits and violins lack. If you set your clothes on fire, for example, you might think to try another way. Sure, it's easier if someone tells you, "your weld looks like shit, Do it this way." but then you lose all your self esteem and individuality.
drip
It's clear that he's talking about using an arc welder as a musical instrument, right?
Here's some footage of the Ensemble playing rubbish.
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