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Soundcheck

Friday, May 13, 2005
  • Composer and clarinetist Andy Biskin performing his "Goldberg's Variations" inspired by Rube Goldberg drawings
    Andy Biskin performing his "Goldberg's Variations" inspired by Rube Goldberg drawings

    Built to Last

    Recently, Composer and clarinetist Andy Biskin found inspiration in the absurd logic of Rube Goldberg's "invention cartoons," which depict the use of bizarre tools and strategies to accomplish simple tasks. He's taken those and created "Goldberg's Variations," a suite of 12 Rube Goldberg drawings brought to life with his own video animations and original music. He shares some of those with us today. And the Choro Ensemble celebrates the music of 19th century Rio de Janeiro blending European styles like fado, polka, waltz, and mazurka with the emerging Afro-Brazilian samba.

Drawings by Rube Goldberg

Rube Goldberg drawing - Self-Operating Napkin
Click to enlarge. Rube Goldberg is the ® and © of Rube Goldberg Inc.

Rube Goldberg drawing Simple Way to Light a Cigar in an Automobile Traveling Fifty Miles an Hour
Click to enlarge. Rube Goldberg is the ® and © of Rube Goldberg Inc.


Additional Resources:
» Andy Biskin's Web site
» Rube Goldberg Web site
» Choro Ensemble website

Introducing our Video Contest

Soundcheck

John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.

In Studio: Los Amigos Invisibles

Soundcheck

The Venezuelan funk-rock band "Los Amigos Invisibles" was discovered by David Byrne in a Manhattan record shop. They perform live on Soundcheck.

In Studio: Angel Deradoorian

Soundcheck

The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.

Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico

Soundcheck

Cucu Diamantes went from a tough childhood in Havana, Cuba, to an art school in Rome to underground New York City, where she co-founded the Latin alternative band Yerba Buena.

In Studio: The Decemberists

The Portland, Ore., band's latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is a concept album with a mythological flair. They joined Soundcheck to play live for a studio audience in WNYC's Greene Space.

Sound Off

Soundcheck

Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.