1965
The Swedish title "900 kg slagverk ihopsatt" (900 kg of assembled percussion) appears in the archival documents contained in the Max Neuhaus Papers (Box 1, Folder 9) at the Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Context and Origin
This article originates from Neuhaus's 1965 European tour, specifically documented in the Swedish press (likely Dagens Nyheter or Svenska Dagbladet) during his residency or performances in Stockholm.
The title refers to the literal weight of the equipment Neuhaus transported across the Atlantic: approximately one ton of instruments, including gongs, tam-tams, and custom electronics.
Solo Virtuosity: At this stage, Neuhaus was performing his own "realizations" of works by Stockhausen (such as Zyklus) and Cage. The Swedish press was fascinated by the logistical and physical feat of a single artist operating such a vast and technologically advanced "machine."
This tour saw the debut of his Max-Feed device, which allowed him to manipulate "900 kg" of acoustic metal through electronic feedback, a process he later immortalized on his 1968 album Electronics & Percussion Columbia University Library.