Live Recordings from the Powerhouse Late: Electric Keys

7th April, 2022

Featuring Indira Elias with Zigi Blau on the Farfisa Combo Compact organ; Pookie with the die youngs; Rainbow Chan on the Hohner Clavinet D6 and Rhodes Piano Bass and Corin on the Roland SH-101 monophonic synthesiser; JOY. on the Wurlitzer model 200A electric piano; Ziggy Ramo with Abbie von Bertouch; Lachy Doley on the Hammond B3 electric organ; and Yeo and Small Fry.  

At the end of 2020 the Powerhouse acquired an important private collection of keyboards from the middle of the 20th century, a period prior to the rise of synthesisers. These electronic keyboards complement the existing collection of mechanical instruments, such as pianos and organs from the early 1900s, and a small collection of significant synthesisers. Together they create a unique opportunity to explore modern keyboard development and its contribution to the genres of jazz, pop, rock, soul and prog-rock.

https://www.maas.museum/event/electric-keys/

Powerhouse Late: Electric Keys

Design Nation

111438_AUTOMATONTHELAWYERGOWNUP_PROCESSED_20220211_r1
Object No. H6858
https://collection.maas.museum/object/246791

French musical automaton, 'L'Avocat' (The Lawyer), 1895-1905 (gown up)

111413_AUTOMATONBONTEMS_PROCESSED_20220211_r1
Object No. H5043
https://collection.maas.museum/object/241685

French musical automaton by Bontems family

342304_AUTOMATONBIRDINCAGESINGING_PROCESSED_20220211_r2
Object no.: H5206
https://collection.maas.museum/object/242473

Musical automaton of bird in cage (singing)

342304_AUTOMATONBIRDINCAGESINGING_PROCESSED_20220211_r1
Object no.: H5206
https://collection.maas.museum/object/242473

342304_AUTOMATONBIRDCAGEMECHANICAL_PROCESSED_20220211_r1
Object No. H5206
https://collection.maas.museum/object/242473

Musical automaton of bird in cage

This performance of Equinox, created by Eucalyptusdom artist Jane Sheldon, marks a ceremonial transition, reawakening the exhibition space after a period of rest.

This work, for two sopranos and electronics, takes Danielle Blau’s poem, The Vernal Equinox Story as a setting. A finalist in Australia’s 2020 Peter Porter Poetry Prize, it employs recurrent palindromes and is full of axes of symmetry — equators — an echo of the twice-annual symmetry of the Earth’s hemispheres in relation to the sun’s light, at each Equinox. Sheldon’s composition fills the text with musical mirrors and visual axes of symmetry.

Sheldon is an acclaimed Australian-American soprano and composer who specialises in the creation and performance of exploratory chamber music. Her original work Eucalyptus Wind Rose was created as the soundscape for Eucalyptusdom.

Eucalyptusdom Reawakening - Equinox, Jane Sheldon

107026 HANDMADEMASSAGEMACHINE PROCESSED 20220324 R1
Object No. 2016/48/1
https://collection.maas.museum/object/471744

Handmade massage machine

118022 PHILHARMONICTUNINGFORK1 PROCESSED 20220324 R1
Object no. H5150
https://collection.maas.museum/object/242315

'Philharmonic Continental Society of Arts' tuning forks made by John Walker (1)

118023 PHILHARMONICTUNINGFORK2 PROCESSED 20220324 R1
Object no.: H5150
https://collection.maas.museum/object/242315

'Philharmonic Continental Society of Arts' tuning forks made by John Walker (2)

118024 PHILHARMONICTUNINGFORK3 PROCESSED 20220324 R1
Object no.: H5150
https://collection.maas.museum/object/242315

'Philharmonic Continental Society of Arts' tuning forks made by John Walker (3)

14408 SHARPENERMORAYNOPENCIL PROCESSED 20220324 R1
Object no. 2005/114/4
https://collection.maas.museum/object/350280

Pencil sharpener used in Moray Millinary's workrooms (no pencil)

14408 SHARPENERMORAYWITHPENCIL PROCESSED 20220324 R2
Object no.: 2005/114/4
https://collection.maas.museum/object/350280

Pencil sharpener used in Moray Millinary's workrooms (with pencil)

209450 WITTNERMETRONOME120BPM PROCESSED 20220324 R2
Object No. 86/1830D
https://collection.maas.museum/object/61195

Wittner Metronome (120BPM)

209450 WITTNERMETRONOME176BPM PROCESSED 20220324 R1
Object No. 86/1830D
https://collection.maas.museum/object/61195

Wittner Metronome (176BPM)

209450 WITTNERMETRONOME72BPM PROCESSED 20220324 R3
Object No. 86/1830D
https://collection.maas.museum/object/61195

Wittner Metronome (72BPM)

212025 FELTANDTARRANTCOMPOMETER PROCESSED 20220324 R1
Object no.: 86/392
https://collection.maas.museum/object/64834

Felt and Tarrant mechanical comptometer

58674 TUNINGFORK PROCESSED 20220324 R1
Object No. H9003-28
https://collection.maas.museum/object/254354

Tuning fork

Live Recording from the Powerhouse Late: Electric Keys

7th April, 2022

www.maas.museum/event/electric-keys/

Electric Keys: Yeo and Small Fry

Live Recording from the Powerhouse Late: Electric Keys

7th April, 2022

Rainbow Chan plays the 'Hohner Clavinet D6' keyboard designed by Ernst Zacharias and 'Rhodes Piano Bass' keyboard instrument designed by Harold Rhodes from the Powerhouse Collection.

Corin plays the 'Roland SH-101' monophonic synthesiser from the Powerhouse Collection.

www.maas.museum/event/electric-keys/

Electric Keys: Rainbow Chan and Corin

Electric Keys: Pookie with the die youngs

Live Recording from the Powerhouse Late: Electric Keys

7th April, 2022

JOY. plays the 'Wurlitzer model 200A' electric piano by Wurlitzer Company from the Powerhouse Collection.

www.maas.museum/event/electric-keys/

Electric Keys: JOY.

Live Recording from the Powerhouse Late: Electric Keys

7th April, 2022

Zigi Blau plays the 'Farfisa Combo Compact' organ from the Powerhouse Collection.

www.maas.museum/event/electric-keys/

Electric Keys: Indira Elias with Zigi Blau

0046511 MECHANICALCALCULATORMADAS PROCESSED 20220506 R1
Object No. 2010/1/240
https://collection.maas.museum/object/373298

Madas model 20ATG calculating machine

0051083 ABACUSWINGSANG PROCESSED 20220506 R1
Object No. 2008/105/3
https://collection.maas.museum/object/380446

Abacus used by Wing Sand & Co Ltd

0067899 SPRINGBALANCE PROCESSED 20220506 R1
Object No. 85/353-8
https://collection.maas.museum/object/47049

Spring balance

0345766 SPEAKINGPICTUREBOOKHGAVEL PROCESSED 20220506 R1
Object No. H7407
https://collection.maas.museum/object/248355

'The Speaking Picture Book'

65985 WIREKITCHENWHISK PROCESSED 20220324 R1
Object no. K986
https://collection.maas.museum/object/263945

Wire kitchen whisk

107026 HANDMADEMASSAGEMACHINE EM Recording 2 Channel 20220324 .WAV
Object No. 2016/48/1
https://collection.maas.museum/object/471744
Recorded by David Chesworth with Electro Magnetic microphones. Stereo.

Handmade massage machine (electro magnetic recording)

0100167 STARADDINGMACHINE PROCESSED 20220520 R1
Object no. 2010/1/179
https://collection.maas.museum/object/372839

Star adding machine

0608796 MEASURINGTAPESIGNWRITERSTOOLKIT PROCESSED 20220603 R1
Object No. H10194-4/7
https://collection.maas.museum/object/626777

Measuring tape from signwriters tool kit

0426823 PAPERTAPEHANDPUNCH PROCESSED 20220603 R1
Object No. 2010/1/217
https://collection.maas.museum/object/373327

Paper tape hand punch

0082388 TOYDRUMMERBEAR PROCESSED 20220603 R1
Object No. 85/2575-29
https://collection.maas.museum/object/42216

'Drummer Bear' clockwork operated toy

Object No. B2264
collection.maas.museum/object/211504

Small steam engine used at a gold mine (turning off)

Object number: 97/254/1 

Alexandra Spence’s work explores earth’s material relationship with space via satellite disposal and debris, and the uncanny historic connections between electronic music and space exploration. Travelling through orbits, life cycles and transmissions, Stellar Nullius reconsiders the earth’s atmosphere, not as a liminal zone, but as a provisioning body whose wellbeing is deeply intertwined with our own. 

Alexandra Spence is a sound artist/musician based in Eora (Sydney). Through her practice Alexandra reimagines the intricate relationships between the listener, the object, and the surrounding environment as a kind of communion or conversation. She has presented her work worldwide and released music with Room40, Longform Editions, MoreMars (with MP Hopkins), Canti Magnetici, and Mappa. Find Alexandra on Instagram @alxandraspence and follow her work on Linktr.ee https://linktr.ee/alexandraspence.

With thanks to the interview subjects: Dr Annie Handmer, Professor Iver Cairns, Alan F Jones, Dr Sarah Reeves, Martin Gotfrit. Work title borrowed from Elizabeth Povinelli. 

Oscillations is presented by Jon Tjhia and sound design is by Erin Hyde (Sig Nu Gris).

ALEXANDRA SPENCE — STELLAR NULLIUS

Powerhouse Indigenous Collections professionals explore the Paradise Camp Vārchive’s dual role as artwork and archival practice that could catalyse a transformative shift within the heritage sector by highlighting the imperative for Indigenous interventions within colonial collections to foster truth-telling. 

Listen to provocations by Professor Francesca Tarocco and excerpts of responses from Tammi Gissell, Madeline Poll and Nathan Mudyi Sentence, as they contemplate the need to redefine heritage by encompassing Indigenous communities and sites as archives and memory holders which are increasingly threatened by climate change.

01 Professor Francesca Tarocco – Provocation

‘I thought it was a project that is similar with our slogan – every sound and noise can become music. So, while I usually choose samples for music production intuitively, this time I focused on listening to and selecting samples with small details.’ – Yetsuby (Manda) 

Commissioned by the Powerhouse, Salamanda produced 'Museum Folk' using samples from 'Sounding the Collection.' Released in collaboration with Ableton, the sample pack features over 100 recordings of objects from the Powerhouse museum's collection. Salamanda used: 

Automaton Birdcage Mechanical – Object No. H5206
Philharmonic Tuning Fork – Object No. H5150 
Photograph Album Music Box – Object No. H5397
Pedestrian Crossing Button – Object No. 87/234-1
Glycine Hispida Soybeans – Object No. D3249
Japanese Lantern Clock (Winding) – Object No. A2976
Toy Drummer Bear – Object No. 85/2575-29
Speaking Picture Book – Object No. H7407

Salamanda – Museum Folk

‘I was really drawn to the steam engine sample in the sense of using it as like a metaphor for how I perceive myself to continuously pursue my career. It inspired me to build the song kind of around this motif of a steam engine constantly whirring and constantly going. It's a really driving sound. That's all I was thinking about when I was making that song – what really drives me to keep going in spite of all these obstacles and in spite of everything.’ – SOLLYY 

Commissioned by the Powerhouse, SOLLYY produced 'Steam Engine Blues' using samples from 'Sounding the Collection.' Released in collaboration with Ableton, the sample pack features over 100 recordings of objects from the Powerhouse museum's collection. SOLLYY used: 

Philharmonic Tuning Fork (2) – Object No. H5150–2
Speaking Picture Book – Object No. H7407
Small Steam Engine Used At A Gold Mine – Object No. B2264
'Atari Cx2600 Vcs' Electronic Toy – Object No. 2003/119/1
Pedestrian Crossing Button – Object No. 87/234-1
Automaton Birdcage Mechanical – Object No. A4208;
Charkha (Spinning Wheel), India (Mono) – Object No. 2002/47/1

SOLLYY – STEAM ENGINE BLUES

‘We need to teach our kids also...and we can teach our daughter and son from father side, and we can teach our kids from mother side. And they know they got their knowledge. They got story already. And that's why we are strong. We got story.’ Margaret Rarru

In the Alchemy audio series, we travel with curator Coby Edgar to learn about the processes behind the artworks in the exhibition from the artists who created them.

This episode featured Margaret Rarru with translations by her sister, Helen Milminydjarrk, of Millingimbi Arts and Culture.

Milingimbi Art and Culture Centre

‘My sister, she didn't do weaving and now she is good at making marebu. We say marebu because it's a floor mat. For myself and my sister and mum we do basket, floor mat, even earrings, all type of basket. And now we are doing one mat for four of us for this exhibition in Sydney, which is our first time.’ Rosemary Nabuwald 

In the Alchemy audio series, we travel with curator Coby Edgar to learn about the processes behind the artworks in the exhibition from the artists who created them.

This episode features Rosemary Nabuwald from Marrawuddi Arts and Culture.

Marrawuddi Arts and Culture

‘I travel, community to community, but taught so many girls. I did culture every afternoon with my family, tell one another stories. I'll tell them in the olden days tell them what our ancestors used to do.’ Regina Pilawuk Wilson

In the Alchemy audio series, we travel with curator Coby Edgar to learn about the processes behind the artworks in the exhibition from the artists who created them.  

This episode of the Alchemy audio series features Regina Pilawuk Wilson from Durrmu Arts.

Durrmu Arts Aboriginal Corporation

‘Because the bush dye we making it, we can feel our ancestors talking, the fire burning and the leaf, it's like memories for our ancestors. They was walking through the bush, getting colour, natural colour, natural leaves for boiling like bush tucker and bush medicines.’ Anindilyakwa artist  

In the Alchemy audio series, we travel with curator Coby Edgar to learn about the processes behind the artworks in the exhibition from the artists who created them.

This episode of the Alchemy audio series features Maicie Lalara, Noeleen Danjibana Lalara, Sheanah Shakita Marawilli and Tanielle Marawili of Anindilyakwa Arts.

Anindilyakwa Arts Centre

‘For Alchemy, I'm specifically using the eucalyptus and that's been a wonderful experience, experimenting with what's here.’ Kay Lee Williams 

In the Alchemy audio series, we travel with curator Coby Edgar to learn about the processes behind the artworks in the exhibition from the artists who created them.  

This episode features Kay Lee Williams.

Kay Lee Williams

‘These pieces for me talk about those kin centric relationships or how we are one in the same or we're related. We're connected, interconnected. We rely upon each other. We give life to each other.’ Lucy Simpson 

In the Alchemy audio series, we travel with curator Coby Edgar to learn about the processes behind the artworks in the exhibition from the artists who created them.  

This episode features Lucy Simpson.

Lucy Simpson

Baramadagal weaver and social justice lawyer Jayne Christian reflects on her 2023 galang residencyInternal link icon in Paris, a Powerhouse initiative in partnership with Cité internationale des arts.

Galang Residency – Jayne Christian

Comedian and design commentator Tim Ross talks to designer David Wood about the Café Bar and its success as an all-plastic, bright orange hot beverage dispenser.

Design Nation Interviews - David Wood with Tim Ross

Comedian and design commentator Tim Ross reminisces about the dolphin torch on Aussie summer holidays.

Design Nation Interviews - Dolphin Torch by Tim Ross

Comedian and design commentator Tim Ross talks to industrial designer Denise Larcombe about her experiences as a designer at Crown Corning glassware.

Design Nation Interviews - Denise Larcombe with Tim Ross

Comedian and design commentator Tim Ross talks about the international, and fascinating success of the Sebel Integra Chair.

Design Nation Interviews - Integra Chair by Tim Ross

Comedian and design commentator Tim Ross talks to Life. Be In It creator Phillip Adams about the beginnings and success of the Australian well-being campaign.

Design Nation Interviews - Phillip Adams AO with Tim Ross

Located in Sydney, Powerhouse Museum is the largest museum group in Australia. It sits at the intersection of the arts, design, science and technology and plays a critical role in engaging communities with contemporary ideas and issues. It is custodian to more than half a million objects of national and international significance, and is considered one of the finest and most diverse collections in Australia.

Powerhouse

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks