Play it again, stranger
Who is handling the song of the cities, that kind of sampling without an apparent author of steps, stops, voices, honks, birds, sirens of ambulance and those from the others?
Every major city has its sounds, personal and difficult to define. They seem to be at random, but there is a way of becoming involved in this street soundtrack. Regulations can deal with the limits of disturbing noises, such as exhaust pipes or drills. But sometimes, more ambitious ideas come up: not only with the purpose of reducing aggressive noise, but also increasing the pleasant sounds.
Those who walk along Downtown London can get surprised just around the corner by –for instance- some of the “Gymnopédies” by Erik Satie. Or by a classic by Gershwin or Beethoven. Or by an unknown melody. When looking for the sound from a stereo system of a car, they can become astonished by discovering that music comes from, for instance, the garden of the cathedral of St. Paul. Or from the patio of a museum. Or any peadestrian alley. There, a vocational pianist plays because he wants to do it, with a piano in the outdoors.
And there is a signal on the piano that reads “I’m yours, play me”. The musician, who is completely concentrating on his work, turns the page in the music stand. The audience, that’s to say, inhabitants, or even the city, claps occasionally and keeps on
their way. Some minutes later, there is another pianist playing another piano at another street.
The evening, about to be night, becomes much prettier.
Which musical instruments would you like to listen in the streets of Buenos Aires? And what about melodies?
