Morning Concert:
You Are Your Instrument

This program, recorded on August 7, 1992, begins with a brief interview with choreographer Nancy Karp, who has collaborated with artist Carol Law and composer Ingram Marshall to produce several dance pieces which she describes for the host, Charles Amirkhanian. This is followed by a visit with pianist and composer Michael Harrison, who is perhaps best known for his work with just intonation and his Harmonic Piano. The unique design of the strings, hammers and pedals of the Harmonic Piano gives it a delicate harp-like timbre, and allows for playing 24 distinct notes per octave in perfectly tuned intervals. A number of examples of his compositions for this extraordinary instrument are also heard. The second half of the program is then devoted to an interview with Julie Lyonn Lieberman, the author of “You Are Your Instrument: The definitive musician’s guide to practice and performance”, written to help artists avoid the chronic pain and injuries which shortens careers. Touted by Lukas Foss and others, the book made waves for its radical approach to overcoming performance anxiety, general tension, and muscular injury. Lieberman, producer of the “Hear and Now” program on WBAI in New York, talks with host Charles Amirkhanian about her research. Joining her is like-minded composer and performer Allaudin Mathieu, who has also written a book on the art of listening. The two of them perform a number of works for violin and piano and occasional voice, that range from improvisations, new age jazz, to short, minute long compositions.