Amplified cactus

An amplified cactus is a cactus plant used as a musical instrument. The amplified cactus is a medium rarely written for, even in the contemporary music genre. It harnesses the acoustic properties of a cactus (preferably a Denmoza or Geohintonia), and enhances their projection and tone with amplification. The effect is somewhat ethereal, making it a suitable genre over which modern dance might be choreographed. The cactus is such a finicky instrument to display virtuosity on, that usually the composer sits at the spines, sans music (as with all "cactus musik"). One of the most famous pieces for amplified cactus is called "Degrees of Separation" "Grandfather Tree" by Paul Rudy (scored for amplified cactus, and tape). The piece was written in 1999 and performed most recently at Ithaca College School of Music in 2007 at a Kulmusik recital. The piece was received with overwhelming enthusiasm.

John Cage, perhaps one of the most recognizable names in the contemporary music genre, composed a piece for what he described as "amplified plant materials" in 1975. Cage was a large proponent of chance music and felt that the organic nature of music without man-made instruments was very strong and influential.

Rudy mentions in his own program notes "The idea for a cactus and tape work came about when I heard a performance of John Cage’s Child of Tree. I was immediately taken with the sound of the cactus in particular. Taken from its natural environment and placed in the confined and groomed existence of a pot, amplified with a contact microphone, the cactus took on a completely new and interesting character, however paradoxical. Without the amplification its subtle and poignant resonances go largely unnoticed. The relationship between natural objects and their unnatural extension is the metaphor which inspired Grandchild of Tree. I am deeply indebted to Nathan Davis for his amazing cactus technique and samples!"

One reporter, Madeline Schapiro writes ""For Degrees of Separation “Grandchild of Tree” I wish I could report that the small, barrel cactus, sitting in its pot rather unassumingly all night, had been specially flown in from the Arizona desert, but no: it came from a Home Depot store in upstate New York. As composer Paul Rudy added with a perfectly straight face, “I met this cactus about 10:00 this morning.”

Sources

* [http://www.abc.net.au/arts/adlib/stories/s857566.htm]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/20/arts/music/20perc.html]