14
A Suitcase of Sounds


Found at a safety deposit box at the Shinjuku branch of the Fuji Bank of Japan, this case is of sturdy aluminum construction, lined with sponge rubber. The contents consist of 12 recordings on differing media - from wax cylinder to compact disc - and seem to represent a kind of "history" of modernist music ( or anti-music?) as heard through the ears of Tulse Luper. There is nothing definitive about the collection, but all examples are unique and important in their own way. Some of the items are special editions, probably prepared at great expense for a private collector, while others are regular releases, or simply a reel of tape with hand written notes on the leader. The authenticity of some of the items are in doubt. An inventory of the 12 items is listed below, are in no particular order.

  1. Luigi Russolo: A Concert of Noises. Format: Wax cylinder. In April 1914 the Futurists Filippo Marinetti and Luigi Russolo put on the first concert of "Futurist music," created using their specially designed and constructed noise instruments or "intonarumori." No recordings are known to have existed. This cylinder awaits an audition until a suitable player can be found.

  2. Brian Eno: Music for Airports. Format: 4 x CD. The regular release on Editions EG, 1979 comprised of a single LP. For this probably unique edition, the left and right channels of each track have been shuffled to make a total of 16 "new" tracks. This personal edition also comes in a box measuring 25 x 25 cm, and includes a 300 page brochure of architectural plans for 16 of the world's major airports.

  3. Oliver Messiaen: Location Recordings of Bird Song. Format: Reel to reel tape. An obvious choice for Tulse, as Messiaen is known to have notated bird-song.

  4. Terry Riley: A Rainbow in Curved Air. Format: CD. "Bog standard release found in a second hand book shop in Tokyo." - T.L.

  5. Lewis Carroll: Inverted Musical Boxes. Format: Reel to reel tape. Almost certainly not recorded by Lewis Carroll, but the idea to record them playing in reverse was! Source unknown.

  6. Gavin Bryars: The Sinking of the Titanic. Format: LP Released on Eno's Obscure label, 1975. Water damaged.

  7. Henri Pousseur: Paraboles Mix. Format: Reel to reel tape. Due to the nature of the compositional process, this version is unlike the one released on Haast Records. Probably unique.

  8. John Cage: 4'33". Format: none.

  9. Lou Reed: Metal Machine Music. Format: 2 x LP. "Found without a sleeve for one UKP at Leicester market around 1983. The previous owner obviously loved the cover far more than the incessant, minimalist wall of noise, which only pauses at the end of each side. The only variety is at the lock-groove at the end of side four." T.L.

  10. Nurse With Wound: Homotopy to Marie. Format: CD Regular CD expanded reissue on United Dairies of the is classic of Surrealism applied to sound.

  11. Roger Doyle: Oizzio No: Format: CD "If you say "I don't know" in a Dublin accent it sounds like "Oizzio No" - Roger Doyle.

  12. Flagrante Delicto: Manuel de Civilitie pour les Petites Filles a l'Usage des Maisons d'Education. Format: CD. Dramatic sound montage, Japanese style. Comes with a 200 page book of artistically vulgar artwork produced to the highest printed quality. Source Unknown.
Report filed by
Nigel Harris, VFI Japan. gargoyle@ppp.bekkoame.or.jp


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Peter Greenaway		.........