I was thinking of Paris, or terrorism generally. Every time Hauschka hit the keys, the objects resting on his piano strings jumped and vibrated, producing rhythmic sounds that were picked up by microphones mounted within his baby grand. He thundered on the keys and the objects thundered in response, and I thought of French air strikes. I thought of Syria, shaking to pieces.
Volker Bertelmann’s stage name is a reference to a German cosmetics brand, Dr Hauschka. He is the world’s leading player of prepared piano music. It’s a title he inherited from John Cage, although Hauschka was barely aware of the 20th century avant-gardist when he started out. A fairly esoteric genre, prepared piano is where objects are placed on or between piano strings to change the tone of the instrument and create percussive effects. Hauschka, who has made 14 albums since 2004, has done his part to popularise it. He has collaborated with members of Calexico and Icelandic outfit Múm, and has twice appeared on Boiler Room TV, the cult electro streaming channel.
For his debut Australian tour, Hauschka played compositions from his 2014 album, Abandoned Cities. Despite the camera mounted over his piano, it was difficult to understand what was going on. He threw a handful of tin foil cups on the strings and they jumped around chaotically. A small chain was taped in position, and rattled in response to Hauschka’s pummelling keys. A toy drum bounced across the bass lines. To the left of the pianist there was a black box that seemed to add effects and loops, but again, it was hard to be sure.
What I can faithfully report is that Hauschka’s piano sounded nothing like a piano. It was completely transformed. It sounded like dark and agitated machinery, churning through water. Sometimes it sounded like an orchestra, and if you were a little preoccupied it sounded like the war on terror.
BY SIMONE UBALDI
Loved: Hauscha’s jetlag. “My body is here but my soul is somewhere else.”
Hated: The mediocre audience turnout.
Drank: Wine, because MRC.
