Cello Powder

-only on thing left...
-turn the cello...into powder

cello powder [the complete works for cello]
performance at INSTAL 09 – March 09 Glasgow, UK

in a few words:
a) make the whole sonic range of the cello sound simultaneously for one hour.
b) turn the cello into powder.

in depth:
cello powder [the complete works for cello] is a “durational” project in two parts:

part 1 - recording:
The sonic range of the cello is divided into 100 quarter tones. Every quarter tone is recorded for one hour. During this hour volume and timbre change [from soft to very loud plus pure tone to noise and back]. The sonic result e.g. 100 one hour drones will be mixed into one audio file [all 100 files will sound simultaneously] called “the complete works for cello” and pressed onto a limited amount of cds.

part 2 - performance:
The cello used in the recording will be destroyed [turned into powder] in front of a live audience while “the complete works for cello” will be played back through speakers. The powder will be used to fill jars of approximately 250ml labeled, numbered and sealed. Every jar will be accompanied by a “complete works for cello” cd. The number of cds available will be equal to the number of jars, the rest of the cds will be destroyed in front of the audience. The cello powder packs [jar of cello powder + “complete works for cello” cd] will be available for sale. The price will be determined by the number of jars [price of the cello used divided by the number of jars]. The performance will be videotaped. The audio file of the “complete works for cello” plus the unedited video file of the “cello powder” performance will be available for free download through www.cellopowder.com, March 09 onwards. Cello powder packs [jar of cello powder + “complete works for cello” cd] will be available also through the same website.


by Nikos Veliotis
www.cellopowder.com