A Coincidence in Rochester

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 Koechlin, from 14 Miniatures

Check out this amazing clock, which I discovered oddly abandoned in a deserted concourse, just off Rochester’s main drag. I don’t have the story behind this incredible timepiece or how it wound up here, but its imposing presence – so suggestive of Rochester’s rich, splendid history - juxtaposed with this massive, modern interior, inspired me to snap a couple of photos and capture the ample acoustic with a reading of this short piece by Charles Koechlin. If you check out this embedded link regarding one of my all-time favourite composers – Koechlin was a contemporary of Debussy, studied under Faure – you may be surprised at what I just discovered when I scrolled down through the french text: Koechlin had a fascination with stereo photography…and one of my favorite cameras that I still use on occasion is my Kodak Stereo Camera, circa 1950ish – maybe this in part explains my instinctive affinity Koechlin’s delightful music.

So here’s the weird thing: as I am writing away and, you know, pulling up these links, what are the odds that I should happen upon this quirky interest of a lesser-known and even rather quirky French composer, especially when my stereoscopy camera was made right here in Rochester?!? I mean, think about it, what are the chances? My camera might even have been rolling off the assembly line at the nearby Kodak factory the week that Koechlin died. I guess some might call this a kind of divine grace, an invisible hand overseeing Urban Flute Project: I just call it downright freaky!!

Okay, her is an image of Koechlin’s “Verascope”…

…and here is my Kodak Stereo Camera!     

Mostly my pictures for Urban Flute are actually taken on my old Nokia phone – hey it’s convenient, economical, and they’re easy to upload – however these pics in Rochester were taken with my Nikon D-60, which is a brilliant camera. The photo of this crazy clock may only be in 2-D, but I like to think that the recording here is in full 3-D! A kind of ‘technicolour’, surround sound, especially if you use headphones! I still can’t get over this vintage metal camera of Koechlin’s - just  look at that thing – or the spooky coincidence that he and I shared the same obsession with stereo images!