TRITON Magazine Winter 2018 | Page 43

DEEP IN THE OUTBACK of Queensland , Australia , you wouldn ’ t expect to hear the sounds of pianos from the past . Nor would you expect to come across their source : a three-story building dressed in copper , built especially for the 16 vintage pianos inside . The one thing you may expect from such an offbeat musical project , however , is that the hands of Tritons are at the keys .
Griswold and Tomlinson collaborated with Australian architect Bruce Wolfe to see the project through , from the building ’ s design to the collection of old pianos from throughout Australia ( even off the side of the road , in some cases ). Each piano has distinct qualities and different degrees of wear and tear , all adding to the character of the compositions often written and performed by the two alumni ( and 14 other pianists , of course ).
The Piano Mill is halfway around the world , but see and hear it online at tritonmag . com / pianomill
( Clockwise from left ) The Piano Mill on a clear Outback night ; Cara Tran performs on one of the Mill ’ s 16 vintage pianos ; Vanessa Tomlinson , MA ’ 97 , DMA ’ 00 , directs a performance ; Erik Griswold MA ’ 92 , PhD ’ 97 , looks down through the void ; Griswold and Tomlinson descend the building ' s ladder . Photos : Greg Harm
Partners Erik Griswold MA ’ 92 , PhD ’ 97 , and Vanessa Tomlinson , MA ’ 97 , DMA ’ 00 , met as graduate students in the music program and soon after graduation became part of the vibrant music scene in Tomlinson ’ s native Australia . With a background from breakthrough professors like Steve Schick , Roger Reynolds and George Lewis , it wasn ’ t long before they became involved with the effort to build The Piano Mill , an architectural art piece and “ mega-instrument ” that serves as a magnificent nod to Australian history , the Outback environment and modern experimental music .
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