Piano Liberado

Extending and expanding on the prepared piano concept.
Liberated pianos The “Liberated Piano” is an instrument whose keys and hammers have been removed presenting the performer with unimpeded access to the strings with mallets, filament bows and stroked, rosined rods.

I give a second life to these complex and beautiful musical instruments that are otherwise destined to the dump and creates assemblage sculptures using the piano’s parts: wood, strings, hammers & screws.

Sometimes, as part of a performance, I set the instrument on fire. Quite a spectacular ending - both to the performance and the piano.

Photograph by Josef Szuecs

Side story REPLY

I have been writing but not able to send poems out,
I've lost my computer
and had technology detours
code discords discrepancies
and other ailments of this clouded planet

presently
youtube does not help
Tesla batteries are insufficient
real hugs are missing
the mask may come off
but the hiding continues

I ve' been advised
to do without punctuation
to just let it be
and decided
to put this advice to work
rewrite rework recover

the spring is about to spring
the kissies not given
this past year
will come to collect
taxation has been delayed
the unthinkable
has happened

yet we
resilient workers
those employed by unemployment
those with consequence
those that know
how to split wood
and make arrangements
for the coming summer
fall and winter
I welcome
but those that profited
from such a peculiar angst
and the intrepids
who took advantages
I don't forget

I miss my friends
I want to read these poems to you
in person
reciting with a voice
only I possess
not the only voice
not the equal voice
but an unique voice

the one my singing father gave me
the one my mom reassured me
it was to be loud and clear
if I wanted to be heard

ff
Thursday
March 18th
XX XI

Frequently Asked Questions
What inspired you to do this?
Life.
How long did it take to make it?
My whole life.
How long have you been doing things like this?
The entire time.
How much did this cost to do?
All of my money.
Have you done other things like this?
No, this is all I do.
What did you wish you knew before you started this?
Where to get the money.
Are there plans available to make this? Do you sell this?
I sell it all, will give you a very good price.
What’s next?
More projects, to the moon!
Resoures?
Dear fiends, people like you, my fans and loyal ladies in waiting...

Mauro ffortissimo : piano liberator
The maker Mauro ffortissimo
Argentinean/Italian/American, Grew up in Argentina, where interest in art and music lead him to study classical piano and visual arts. He emigrated to California in 1981 to further his artistic explorations, taking classes in print making, sculpture and painting at San Mateo College, Art Institute, and Berkeley Extension. Mauro is a founding member of “849 Folsom Music”, a 13 member music and spoken word performance troop that brought vital energy to the San Francisco “South Market” artist underground scene in the pre-dot com years of the late 80’s.

As a founding member of the Enso Art Collective and the Miles Davis Memorial Hall, Mauro has been investigating sounds with the deconstruction of pianos, becoming more able to expand the 12-tone scale. He does not subscribe to the romantic notion of a solitary artist, a suffering individual, hidden in a state of despair, creating work that only few can appreciate; instead Mauro travels the world, looking to the mundane, the sacred and the original with the same eyes, and listening to the music of diverse cultures, bringing it all home to work with it’s particular way of assimilation making art and music available to the community.

Photograph by Dennis Hearne

Connect with Mauro ffortissimo
How I can help you:
I will bring lighter fluid.
How you can help me:
Bring fire extinguishers.
If you like this project, please make a small donation to the artist.