I was inexorably led to this post about an artist named Nomura, who was in the process of rehearsing for a performance in a Japanese public bath.
I quote, liberally:
“After warming up their voices, it was time to get changed and go into the bathing area. Here the participants practised making sounds through drumming and stroking the water. Divided into three groups, they made alternating sounds through their hands, the bath water and the tubs. The groups also talked among themselves and all kinds of sounds and timbre were created, which also resonated very well thanks to the high ceiling. The boys and girls were also separated into separate baths. They would listen to and compare each other’s sounds, before then trying to imitate them and experiment with different sounds.”
When asked the obvious “why a public bath?” Nomoru explained:
”I love baths and sento public baths. I like the resonance of sound in the space of the sento. Although sento are getting less and less, because I heard that in Senju there were lots I thought that I wanted to do this. I’ve previously done a music event in a bath once in the past, in Fukuoka. The sound of “playing” the bath water, in other words, the splish-splash sound of the water, is really rich, and the sento is an environment where you can hear that sound very well.”
And I opine:
This is playfulness, personified – a musician who appreciates the sound of water in a public bath enough to build a concert around it. And, even more, a musician who brings to his concert spontaneity and children, and fun.
In his words:
“If they have some fun, that will be the best thing. For me this is a job but for the performers, I want them to be involved and to enjoy themselves. If it was just about showing my own work I would call the event “Makoto Nomura Solo Concert” or “Makoto Nomura’s Bath Concert”, right? I want to make an event where both the performers and the audience participate.”
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide a video of the performance, as it is still in rehearsal. However, we can share a video or several demonstrating other manifestations of Nomura’s playful art.
A little clothespin music:
A little hose music:
And, for a finale, the entertaining and instructional book music:
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