A vehicle from the past becomes a very special musical object. When we push this carriage-like vehicle ahead, various pieces of music are played back from the loudspeaker. The audience can change the speed of playback or play the music backwards, but in order to achieve this effect, the carriage must also change its speed. The carriage follows the score and “reproduces” the notes. The pitches are always the same as in the score, regardless of how fast we ride. By pushing the carriage backwards and forwards, we can also repeat selected fragments of the composition. The audience is invited to experiment: listen to the music played backwards, try out different tempi, introduce rests, ritardandi, and so forth. For this purpose, a special speedometer has been attached to the carriage. Instead of standard speed measurement, it displays musical tempo indications: largo, andante, maestoso, presto, etc. The musical vehicles move among signs similar to traffic signs, which contain instructions and prohibitions, such as “Do not drive faster than tempo adagio,” “Do not drive more slowly than andante,” etc.

Erwin Stache