88 Keys by Blanche Pictures published on 2015-12-08T15:19:55Z an audio work by Esther Johnson 12' · 2013 '88 Keys' is a poetic montage reflecting on the increased disposal of pianos. The work weaves the tortured sounds of the destruction of one piano, with thoughts from the proprietor of London’s last traditional piano factory, and a series of previous piano owners. A symbol of nostalgia for the past, longevity, craft and art, pianos are large, heavy and expensive to tune and it is often cheaper to buy a new one than renovate. People increasingly have no room for them in their lives. Removal companies are now turning their trade to disposal and recycling, with many of the instruments destroyed being 80–90 years from a period when pianos became mass marketed. The majority are considered ‘low-grade’ and can no longer be tuned to modern concert pitch. This programme examines why such analogue instruments are permanently being silenced and whether the cultural relevance of pianos may be fading. A Sound Bank Commission for In The Dark http://www.inthedarkradio.org/sound-bank/grant-winners/ http://blanchepictures.com/88-keys/ Genre piano