Philip Corner / United States b.1933 / Sound stones 1985 / Bronze with ball bearings enclosed, ed. 1/21 / 13 stones / Gift of Francesco Conz through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation 1995 / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery / © The artist
Philip CORNERSound stones 1985
Not Currently on Display
Sound stones are bronze castings of river stones from Verona, Italy, and contain small metal balls. When the stones are shaken, the sounds are subtly varied, resulting in different compositions each time they are moved. The artist created Sound stones as hand bells, which are also related to the traditions of sculpture through their bronze casting.
Philip Corner was born in 1933 in New York. He studied music at City College of New York, gaining a Bachelor of Arts in 1955 and undertook further studies at the Paris Conservatoire (in 1956–57) and at Columbia University, New York, where he gained a Master of Arts.
Corner became interested in Eastern music during military duty in Korea in 1959–60, after which he began to assimilate the teachings of John Cage into chance and systematic procedures for music performances.
Corner is noted for his compositional technique integrating methodical and improvisational procedures as applied to a variety of instruments and objects. His works for Editions Conz include calligraphic silkscreened Fluxus scores, printed textiles, and works such as Sound stones.