PREPARED PIANO different . From there you can extend the whole thing and , if you ’ re interested , explore the limitless possibilities that a piano [ provides ] in terms of drums , percussion , and even string sounds , because you can bow the piano strings to make it sound like a detuned string ensemble .
Like Sol , Hauschka also calls attention to the potential damage preparations can result in if you ’ re not careful . “ That ’ s definitely a danger . You won ’ t be invited the second time if you go into a place and destroy the piano .”
That said , just because something appears invasive , doesn ’ t mean it ’ s harmful . As an example , Hauschka says : “ A lot of times I use a contact microphone between the hammers and the strings on a grand piano because the hammer hits the string from below , so if you put that underneath the string , the hammer hits that , and when you EQ everything properly , you have an 808 bass drum . I mostly use the lowest A key for that . Now , if you show that to a piano tuner or someone from a classical piano house they may get freaked out . But if you show them how it works and explain that you ’ re careful with the pressure and not hammering it down hard , well , some will be fine with it , and some of them won ’ t . With my own piano , of course , I can do whatever I like . And , you know , inventing things always means you have to take some risks .”
Since early prepared piano works like Cage ’ s were composed , the techniques and preparations for prepared piano have dramatically evolved to encompass different materials and different instruments . Among them : the Acoustisizer ( an electro-acoustic instrument that is actually a small grand piano into which have been placed builtin speakers , guitar pickups , PZM mics , and prepared piano elements created by Bob Fenger in 1983 ); the electromagnetically prepared piano ( essentially a blend of a traditionally prepared acoustic piano and a synthesizer ); as well as various software applications and sample libraries , including IRCAM ’ s Prepared Piano / Showcase : Preparation Techniques , Big Fish Audio ’ s John Cage Prepared Piano sample library , and a mobile app available on John Cage ’ s site .
While prepared piano is a somewhat esoteric approach to achieving sounds that , admittedly , can be more easily generated using samples and / or synthesis , the way you approach an instrument , your technique , and frankly what you ’ re inspired to play , differs from instrument to instrument – say , a vintage electro-acoustic instrument vs . a digital recreation of that vs . an acoustic piano . The same is true with a prepared piano , something purely analog and intensely physical that ’ s uniquely compelling . Prepared piano is all about revisiting and redefining how we interact with the instrument , which is perhaps something we take for granted given how much we ’ re able to achieve with digital recreations of instruments .
In Hauschka ’ s experience the result was : “ A playfulness in my playing . I felt so excited about finding sounds and working with obstacles in the strings . Sometimes you have to play very hard to get the full resonance of a tone , which you wouldn ’ t do with a normal piano …. In a way , the technique changes , but also your skills are changing . Everything is in flow , which was something I was always looking for because I was , in a way , caught in my own habits .”
Kevin Young is a musician and freelance writer based in Toronto .
HAUSCHKA ’ S MOST USED GEAR
Mixing Desk
• Studer 961
Monitors
• ATC SCM25
Pianos
• Steinway B grand piano
• Zimmermann Z1 upright piano
Mics for Piano
• Neumann M 49 stereo pair
• Royer R-121 ribbon stereo pair
• Neumann KM 85 stereo pair
• DPA 4099s ( to feed the effects pedal )
Effects
• Boss RC-300 Loop Station
• Eventide Space
• Eventide TimeFactor
• Erica Synth Zen Delay
• Hologram Electronics Microcosm & Infinite Jets
• Red Panda Particle
Synths
• Sequential Prophet-5
• Korg PS-3100
• Erica Synth Syntrx
• Grp Synthesizer A4
• Tasty Chips GR-1
• Roland Jupiter-4
• Soma Pulsar-23
• Soma Lyra-8
• Make Noise Black & Gold Shared System
CANADIAN MUSICIAN 57