How do you prepare a piano?

I know, that sounds like a set-up for a real corny culinary joke. But in reality, it describes a technique used by the German musician Hauschka. It involves placing various objects between the strings or onto the hammers of a piano. The technique has been around since the late 19th century and Erik Satie was an early practitioner. Hauschka’s music displays the influence of Satie as well as modern minimalists like Philip Glass and Steve Reich and he’s been releasing a cd nearly every year since 2005. The first video shows how one prepares a piano. Bon appetit!