Ode To Gravity:
Für Augen und Ohren (”For Eyes and Ears”)

This program begins with excerpts from a 1980 recording titled “Word of Mouth” which features prepared talks by artists given on the island of Ponape in the Pacific Ocean. You will hear segments by Laurie Anderson, Joan Jonas, William T. Wiley, & John Cage. From Micronesia, host Charles Amirkhanian then takes us to West Berlin to participate in “Für Augen und Ohren”, a spectacular exhibition of mechanical and electronic music making devices dating from the past four centuries. Curated by René Block for the Akademie der Kuenste, the exhibition included seven large gallery halls of sound sculpture, early electronic devices of the 1930s and 1940s, and sound environments, many of which Amirkhanian recorded during a walking tour of the event. Hear the sounds of the installations and the visiting public, with pieces by Laurie Anderson, Dick Higgins, Allan Kaprow, Bernard Leitner, Oskar Sala, John Cage, Harry Partch, Luigi Russolo, Joe Jones, Milan Knizak, Stephan von Huene, David Tudor, and Harry Bertoia. Don’t miss Nam June Paik’s “Schallplatten Schaschlik” sculpture, the sounds of the 1930 trautonium, the glass harmonica, the 1790 vogelorgel, Erik Satie’s “Furniture Music”, and much more. (from KPFA Folio)