Semi-Conducting: Rambles Through the Post-Cagean Thicket

Chapter 13: A Computer Walks into a Bar


Where it began: an alley in Cuzco, Peru, January 1978.

Cielo de Tauca, by Banda Primavera de Tauca, Decibel Records LP, no date. Bought in Cuzco in 1978.

Nicolas Collins, Tobabo Folio (1986). Video by Stella Varveris recorded at Experimental Intermedia Foundation, NYC, 1989.

Trombone-propelled electronics. Left: detail of retractable dog leash and digital position encoder (1/2 a mouse).
Right: showing PA horn-driver attached to mouthpiece, keypad on slide.

Hacked Ursa Major "Stargate" digital reverb, with Commodore 64 motherboard in place (left) and removed (right) to show jumpers from parallel interface to sockets on Stargate processor board to replace chips for software emulation and variation.

Nicolas Collins, Real Electronic Music (1986), released on Various Artists, Imaginary Landscapes, Nonesuch CD, 1990. Second work composed for the trombone-propelled electronics.

Nicolas Collins, 100 of the World's Most Beautiful Melodies Trace Elements CD (1989)
(Click on cover image for pdf of the booklet.)

TRACKS

Peter Cusack -- guitar, whistling

Robert Poss -- guitar

Ben Neill -- mutantrumpet

Ben Neill -- mutantrumpet

Pippin Barnett -- percussion

Ben Neill -- mutantrumpet

Peter Zummo -- trombone

Pippin Barnett -- percussion

Peter Cusack -- gatecrasher, tapes

Christian Marclay -- record players

Robert Poss -- guitar

John Zorn -- saxophone

John Zorn -- saxophone

Anthony Coleman -- electric organ

John Zorn -- saxophone

John Zorn -- saxophone

John Zorn -- saxophone

Peter Cusack -- gatecrasher, tapes

Christian Marclay -- record players

Pippin Barnett -- percussion

George Lewis -- trombone

Shelley Hirsch -- voice

Anthony Coleman -- electric organ

Christian Marclay -- record players

Peter Cusack -- guitar

Davey Williams -- guitar

John Zorn -- saxophone

Ned Rothenberg -- bass clarinet

Elliott Sharp -- bass clarinet

Elliott Sharp -- bass clarinet

Elliott Sharp -- bass clarinet

Robert Poss -- guitar

Zeena Parkins -- harp

Davey Williams -- guitar

Zeena Parkins -- harp

Tom Cora -- cello

Peter Cusack -- guitar

Tom Cora -- cello

Peter Cusack -- bouzouki

Tom Cora -- cello

Peter Cusack -- guitar, tuning forks

Peter Cusack -- guitar, whistling