cataloged below are some audio rabbit trails to chase when you’re taking a break from watching news, doing pushups, baking bread, sharing memes, etc.
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NOTE: this tuesday/thursday content is typically only available to paid subscribers, but i’m making it available to everyone for the time being. these posts are the result of story research, or just something delightful. i try to design them so that at a glance you can decide to delete or embrace. if you’d like to continue receiving these in your inbox on a regular basis, upgrade to a paid subscription.
Joe Rinaudo and the American Fotoplayer
you’ve probably seen the clip below, used as a metaphor for our brains, hobbies, and creativity as we go stir crazy while locked up:
the “Joe” in question is Joe Rinaudo, performer and historian. “Professor Rinaudo” is founder of the Silent Cinema Society, and the contraption he’s yanking, poking, and stomping on is an American Fotoplayer, a player-piano/organ/percussion combo made for live-performed scores to silent films.
here is Joe breaking down how the machine works (~10m):
when the short California Gold clip above went viral, a family friend let him know. he offered to do a livestream concert, which he did Sunday night on Facebook live.
younger readers may recognize the instrument from the Netflix sketch comedy series I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. it appears in season 1 episode 3, with Fred Willard as “New Joe”, a hat tip to Joe Rinaudo:
the Theremin, a thread by Sayed A Tabatabai
another unusual instrument, also made popular by cinema, is the Theremin. Sayed Tabatabai has compiled a list of expert performances (from Carolina Eyck and Peter Pringle, e.g.), explanation of how it works, and how you can develop your own way of playing it. click into the thread below to see all the performances, videos, and diagrams:
Field Recordings podcast
lastly, a podcast. if you’re anxious, this one may be for you. the podcast, called Field Recordings, is exactly what it sounds like. they are ambient recordings out in the field from all around the world.
the one linked here is called Golden Gully, and it was recorded in Australia at dusk. as the sun descends, animal life emerges. i found it to be less distracting than music, and more soothing than white noise while trying to get work done from home.
and here’s a newer recording from Zion National Park, Utah after dusk (Apple Podcasts link, Spotify link).
by the way, i found out about this podcast from a substack-powered blog called The Listener, which sends out three great podcast episodes weekly. there’s usually at least one i want to hear. consider signing up for the free newsletter. they have a paid one as well which provides more content.