[UK] Hands Off 2007 - Activities

Day passes will only be available for performers, so if you want to come on just the Sunday, Chris, you will have to do a short set!

I;m sure that can be arranged :-)

Excellent. I'm such a fan of your work. :-)

Add Wilco Botermans, Jessica Hummel and their Croix Sonore (http://www.obsolete.com/120_years/machines/la_croix_sonore/index.html) to the list.

:-)

New modern Croix Sonore, that is. It was specially built by Wilco for the Holland Festival 2006 Oboechov project.

--
Jessica

I have been carefully avoiding enthusing about our potential speakers/performers - what a list! - half of them could develop more pressing engagements and it would still blow me away - as I'm about half-a-mouse-click away from loosing what little cool I have and turning into a simpering fan-boy, but I will permit myself to enthuse about the Croix Sonore.

It's iconic! A design classic. Frankly, my opinion is that it knocks the RCA into a cocked hat for its looks. And what an amazing visual focal point for the symposium. I am soooo delighted by this.

:-)

Wow. My music teacher mentioned a 'Cross Theremin' at one stage, and I didn't know what he was talking about. Now maybe I'll get to see and hear one!

I don't know what could *possibly* bowl over an RCA (I doubt a bowling ball would do it. They're ridiculously heavy). The workmanship on those instruments is just phenomenal . . . a folding music rack, a little set of catches that pop out when you open the doors to prevent you from being horribly electrocuted. Just the thought that it's a theremin designed by Leon himself, used by Clara, and which spawned a revolution in electronic music.

Yes, the RCA has all that history attached, and it is a practical design that would look at home in the drawing rooms of its target market, but...

to the average "duh, what's a theremin" guy one is a writing bureau with a couple of weird antenna sticking out of it and the other is a towering yet delicate brass crucifix with a central star standing atop a metallic oblate spheroid.

I like bold designs. :-)

Anyway - I'm excited to see what Wilco has done with the design. It was a subject of discussion on the way back from your gig, Charlie, and I have an eye witness report that it looks very good indeed.

I am sure this thing is wonderful. It sounds incredible, but my primary concern would be the sound it makes rather than the appearance.

Nevertheless, please tell me that the novelty of watching someone stand in front of a drinks cabinet and proceed to (with strained expression) pluck music out of thin air hasn't worn off for you. Surely not yet?