1A Tuarangi Road (The Governor Brick Pumphouse —a green box–), Grey Lynn, Tāmaki Makaurau / 4 Poynton Terrace (Audio Foundation), CBD, Tāmaki Makaurau / 16:50 - 18:30 hrs, 14(7) August 2022 / 2 November - 2 December 2023 / 18:30 - 19:32 hrs, 29 August 2024 / 2025 TBC
why not / a place to play a clarinet
16:50 - 18:30 hrs, 14(7) August 2022
Jeff Henderson, Sean Martin-Buss
The Governor Brick Pumphouse —a green box–
1A Tuarangi Road, Grey Lynn, Tāmaki Makaurau
Transposed, an apparition of an appearance, a record of two clarinets played by Jeff Henderson and Sean Martin-Buss.
The first performance took place on 14(7) August 2022, from approximately 16:50 to 18:30 hrs, within the Governor Brick Pumphouse —a green box– located at 1A Tuarangi Road, Grey Lynn, Tāmaki Makaurau. With a modest area of 33 sqm, the pumphouse, stripped of its original purpose of water pressure provision, prompt us to reflect on its past while posing the question, "What's next?"
Amidst this site of transition, marked by undefined potential, a pair of transposing woodwind instruments —a clarinet duo— pose a new occurrence. On that afternoon, in an attempt to contribute to the pumphouse's ontological narrative, the players were guided by the presence of two chairs. Each chair served as sculptural notation or a seat for the musicians. The resulting sounds embraced chance and allowed for unpredictable outcomes. Intuitive communication, formed by the moment, develops into a lexical space. As friendly experiencers, where will we position ourselves to observe two players, two clarinets, and two seats for approximately 45 minutes? By documenting this specific moment, moving from one occurrence to the next, perhaps retracing our steps, we aim to ameliorate the ambiguity surrounding the pumphouse. Sound resonates within four walls —a place to play a clarinet. Outside, the wind blows steadily and the rain persists.
2 November - 2 December 2023
Audio Foundation
4 Poynton Terrace, CBD, Tāmaki Makaurau
From the confines of a green box, descending the stairs, and now within the walls of the Audio Foundation Gallery, maquettes and parts accompany two chairs (one redefined) used by Jeff Henderson and Sean Martin-Buss on 14 August 2022 within Governor Brick Pumphouse, 1A Tuarangi Road, Grey Lynn. Arranged as sculptural notation, special characters to be read as a score, objects with signification to be re/defined. These accompanied by a wall painting, descriptive of the floor area of the pumphouse, and a framed photographic contact sheet, depicting the 14 August performance.
During the exhibition the 14 August recording was paired with additional responses to the sculptural notation.
2 November 2023 - Sean Martin-Buss is joined by Ben Sinclair to play clarinet over the top of the recording.
18 November 2023 - Ben Sinclair is joined by Lukas Fritsch to play clarinet over the top of the recording.
These parts —CD and chapbook— are components that embody the occurrence of a previous moment in time, transposing the sound of wind from one formality to another.
Particular acknowledgment is due to Jeff Henderson and Sean Martin-Buss, whose improvised contributions made this inquiry into transposition possible. Thank you Cameron and Gavin for facilitating the use of 1A Tuarangi Road while it was under offer, and to John at Pocket Bar for providing electrical power to 1A on the 14th. Audio Foundation, my sincerest thanks. Your trust in process has aided in an ability to return to fleeting sounds of a rainy afternoon/evening, sounds that would have otherwise blown away in the unrelenting Force 4 winds.
Made available on the occasion of the exhibition, a place to play a clarinet, 2 November - 2 December 2023. The Audio Foundation’s programming is generously supported by CNZ, The Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa.
Released November 2, 2023
Edition of 100 - 978-0-473-68452-5 J.A. Kennedy
all rights reserved
A place to play a clarinet, 4/5
18:30 - 19:32 hrs, 29 August 2024
Audio Foundation
4 Poynton Terrace, CBD, Tāmaki Makaurau
Witness to the fourth of five moments.
Once again informed by sculptural notation, two clarinets are played by Lukas Fritsch and Callum Passells. As before, this live recording is accompanied by the recording of the first performance by Jeff Henderson and Sean Martin-Buss made on August 14(7) 2022 within the Governor Brick Pumphouse, 1A Tuarangi Road.
The date and time of the fifth moment are to be confirmed, but will take place outside 1A Tuarangi Road, Grey Lynn, with each player present.