Project 33
2009
Deitch Project
New York, NY
1 Rank – 1/2 Manuals (x2)
Tracker Action
New Instrument
The AUERGLASS Instrument
Tauba Auerbach’s “HERE AND NOW/AND NOWHERE” exhibition at Deitch Projects
September 3 – October 17, 2009
New York City
In 2009, Parsons Pipe Organ Builders of Canandaigua NY completed construction of The AUERGLASS; a tracker action, foot pumped pipe organ. The musical vision for this project is that of artists Tauba Auerbach and Cameron Mesirow. Parsons was challenged to meld the physical constraints of traditional pipe organ building with this avant-garde concept.
The Auerglass is a two-person mechanical action organ. The instrument requires two people to create music and cannot be played alone. This marriage of interdependency and cooperation is achieved as one player pumps the bellows in order for the other to create music and vice versa.
The two keyboards cover a four-octave range and have been divided so that each of the two players has every other note at their disposal. Auerbach and Mesirow (of the band Glasser), played a composition written specifically for the instrument. It combines music that Auerbach wrote as a child, songs from Glasser and new materials.
The Auerglass was played at the opening of the exhibition on September 3rd, , 2009, as a prelude to a Glasser performance on September 11, and was played daily at 5pm from Tuesday through Saturday during the exhibition.
For additional information visit www.Deitch.com
