In the middle of the 20th century, John Cage used rudimentary preparations to turn a piano into an African-style percussion instrument. The piano interface "Alter Piano" attempts to turn a piano into a rabid modem. 12 digitally controlled electric motors on 12 metal arms inside a grand piano transform the instrument into a screeching, sawing monster. Prepared piano 2.0? At the same time, the question of the relationship between man and machine, between instrument and playing machine, is constantly renegotiated by the motor interface inside the piano, the heart of Western music culture. During the 45-minute performance, the two performers repeatedly change roles - they are dispensed with by the machine, they operate and tune it, or the human ignores the machine and comes into direct physical contact with the piano strings.
4 microphones above and below the piano microscope the sound in this process and transform the piano into an electro-acoustic object and the piano frame into its three-dimensional environment.
Performers: Jascha Hagen and Max Arsava