Whats the story behind the bouncing 8 balls?
The current design of livingroom.org incorporates bouncing 8 balls in memory of Randy Hostetler’s virtuosic piano piece, “8” which requires the pianist to juggle a billiard ball while playing the piano. “8” is carefully crafted in classic piano form. It was composed for Mel Powell in l987 in response to Powell’s plea to Hostetler that he compose “something with notes” rather than his usual experimental scores utilizing such things as pine trees and Kraft macaroni noodles to guide the performers. “8” was the puckish student’s response, which delighted his mentor. It was subsquently performed at a memorable California Institute of the Arts concert celebrating Mel Powell’s 65th birthday. It has also been performed on both the east and west coasts, including a performance by Dan Cantrell at a 1996 Cal Arts Concert in memory of Randy Hostetler that was organized by faculty member Marc Lowenstein.
