David Byrne - Playing the Building, Roundhouse, London

ROUNDHOUSE, Chalk Farm Road, London, August 2009

The piece was originally commissioned for Färgfabriken in Stockholm in 2005, and in 2008 Creative Time presented the piece in New York City's Battery Maritime Building.

www.davidbyrne.com:

"Playing the Building is a sound installation in which the infrastructure, the physical plant of the building, is converted into a giant musical instrument. Devices are attached to the building structure — to the metal beams and pillars, the heating pipes, the water pipes — and are used to make these things produce sound. The activations are of three types: wind, vibration, striking. The devices do not produce sound themselves, but they cause the building elements to vibrate, resonate and oscillate so that the building itself becomes a very large musical instrument.

From modest Victorian beginnings, as a steam engine repair shed, to legendary cultural venue, the 160-year-old Roundhouse has an enviable heritage. Following an extensive refurbishment, the building reopened in June 2006, since which time more than half a million people have been to music, theatre, dance and circus events, and 15,000 1125 year olds have developed their creative talents in the Studios. Today the Roundhouse is a space dedicated to nurturing creative young talent, as well as presenting an eclectic line up of the best in live music, theatre, dance and circus. This August sees the UK premiere of David Byrne's vision of Victorian steam-punk technology as Playing the Building comes to the Roundhouse. The blinds will be off the windows of the domed roof, revealing the building in a new light — the perfect setting for visitors of all ages to explore the Victorian architecture and have the chance to play the building.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• byrne
• roundhouse
• london
• art
• new
• york
• talking
• heads

[PERSONIFICATIONOFYAY]

Was david byrne there?

[jaroshy]

He was at the opening but not on the day I made this video

[meglovesJessieJ]

I'm only watching this because I got told I should by my music teacher -__-