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Have You Ever Seen This Subway Platform Instrument?
By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 7, 2012
Modified Feb 7, 2012
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 7, 2012
Modified Feb 7, 2012
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Courtesy of the MTA
This instrument has been installed inside of the 34th Street/Herald Square subway station for quite some time, but have you ever played it? Reach New York: An Urban Musical Instrument was installed on a platform in the station back in 1996, created by architect and composer Christopher Janney. Recently Transportation Nation visited the audio installation—they have an mp3 of what it sounds like, and write:
Located on both the uptown and downtown platforms, when people put their hands in front of the instrument: “a burst of musical notes are released on the opposite side, playing to the person on the other side. The hand motions elicit an outpouring of sounds that evoke urban life and bring about duets between strangers waiting for their respective trains.
Have you ever tried it?
Tagged
34th street
christopher janney
instrument
platform
reach new york
subway
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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