Ken Nordine The Sound Museum
Right now, before we go anyplace else
I want you to go with me to a special place, that I know
It's a museum
But it is not an ordinary museum
It is a very abstract museum in which they show sound paintings
If you can say that you show sound
But I don't see why you can't
But, here we are in this corridor
Some of the most beautiful works of art are here
Here's one, right here
This is by a very fine young artist
Here, let me turn it on
That sold for two thousand dollars
Makes a lot of money, actually, doing these things
But now, I'd like to turn your attention to this work by an artist who is a World War I veteran
Actually, I, I don't feel that this, for me, says what he intended it to say
And yet, there are those who listen to it and it, it says a great deal to them
Well, here, I'll turn it on and you'll see what I mean
You can see that he uses limited color range
Of course, that's understandable
I'm glad that it's here, though
But, enough of that
Let's go on to the next work I want you to see
Now, this is a sound painting that is indicative of the neurotic feeling of our time
The artist is very young, shows great promise
And I'm glad that the work is exhibited here
Let me turn this painting on
I, I think you can see my point
Now, the artist that did this, fortunately, is under sedatives at the moment
And we expect that his later work will be much calmer and quieter
And... but we do like to give these young neurotic artists a chance
And so, I'm glad that the museum has been big about the whole thing, if it were
But, but let's go on because there's one work here that's been done by Jonnes Cunningham
This is a professor from another country, actually, but his work is revered here
We have quite a few of his works, but this particular one, I want you to listen to very carefully
Because it has an exquisite sense of rhythm
This is a young man who has six children
And it's amazing to me that he can turn out this kind of work at home with the children around
But he says that they help him
But if you'll read it, Cunningham says: "Dedicated to my six children."
Well here, I'll turn it on and you can hear it for yourself
It's just beautiful
Yes, that is one work that the museum should well be proud of
However, I would like to have you come with me now and we'll open this black door at the end of the corridor, here
I won't be able to keep it open very long
And I think you'll understand why
Here, I'll open it, like this, just a crack
And you listen
See what I mean?
I'll close the door
There's a reason it's black
Here, let me open up this door
It's just covered with beautiful colors
And we'll hear what's on the other side of this door