Performance Indication #41

fantasmic






- George Crumb


Date: Monday, March 7, 2005, 7:00 pm
Line: "Daly City" BART train (car 1803x)
Location: between Bay Fair and San Leandro stations

The indication goes unnoticed as everyone's attention is directed outwardly at the wonderfully temperate and clear early spring weather.

Performance Indication #40

quiver like a leaf






- Erik Satie


Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2005, 7:27 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1826x)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations

A lady boards at Embarcadero station. She is dressed in a conservative brown suit detailed with barely perceptible blue pin stripes. She wears her shoulder length hair down as if finally freed from a day spent in pinned-up confinement. She heaves her briefcase into the seat and takes a fleeting glance at the indication. She settles into her seat, takes out a notebook, and begins writing.

Performance Indication #39

romantic con schmaltz






- John Zorn


Date: Friday, February 25, 2005, 6:58 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1530)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations

A middle-aged gentleman with puffy brown hair and a long face boards at Powell Street station. He wears a beige sweater while carrying a warm-up jacket under one arm and two plastic shopping bags in the other. He shuffles over to the seat and notices the indication. Deciding it doesn't present a problem, he sets his bags down and takes a seat next to it. He offboards at the very next stop, carefully and deliberately getting off the train at Civic Center station.

Performance Indication #38

wistfully elegant






- George Crumb


Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2005, 7:29 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1814y)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations

A gentleman boards at West Oakland station. He wears blue jeans, a blue coat, and a brown and white and orange striped stocking cap topped with a single fuzzy orange pom-pom. He prowls the train for a spare newspaper finally discovering an abandoned copy of the San Francisco Chronicle. With his new reading material in hand, the gentleman takes a seat next to the indication, positioning himself with great deliberance yet never noticing the indication. Having found his preferred sitting position, he slumps back into his chair, propping both knees against the back of the adjacent seat.

Performance Indication #37

cultivate renunciation






- Erik Satie


Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2005, 7:14 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1637y)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations

A lady boards at Embarcardero station. She wears black-rimmed glasses, a black sweater, black and white checkered pants, and a soft maroon hat. She clutches a white jacket with a fur-rimmed hood. As she takes her seat opposite the indication, she notices it and considers it with a long and thoughtful look. She then sits down, facing the indication, and folds her arms. She nervously fidgets with her hat, then her jacket, and then her cell phone.

A gentleman boards at Montgomery Street station. He is tall and wears a blue collared shirt. His hair is short-cropped and gelled, and his face is pock-marked. He sits next to the indication but never notices its presence.

A second gentleman boards at Powell Street station. He wears a white sweatshirt that says: "TEAM ATTITUDE - RUMMEL BASKETBALL." He takes a seat, but like the first gentleman, never notices the indication. He simply sits down, propping his head on his hand.

Performance Indication #36

like a flash of light






- John Zorn


Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2005, 6:45 pm
Line: "Richmond" BART train (car 1756y)
Location: between Hayward and Bay Fair stations

A lady boards at Bay Fair station. Her hair is tied in a pony tail with a brown scrunchy. She wears a fleecy, dark blue hooded sweatshirt and carries a white plastic bag. Without ever noticing the indication, she tosses her bag into the seatwell and follows after it, swinging herself into the seat and on top of the indication. She frequently but discretetly looks around the car. She is particularly drawn to the gentleman to her right who is engrossed in a conversation on his cell phone.

Performance Indication #35

dark, with a profound sense of mystery






- George Crumb


Date: Friday, February 11, 2005, 7:19 pm
Line: "Daly City" BART train (car 439x)
Location: between Bay Fair and San Leandro stations

It is a cold and rainy evening. A gentleman boards at San Leandro station. He has a grey beard and a definite paunch. He wears a tan baseball cap, a black jacket, denim shorts, and tan suede slip-on shoes. He chooses a seat adjacent to the the indication. In the process of setting his bag down, he notices the indication and stares at it for a moment while trying to deciper its meaning. Leaving his bag on the seat, the gentleman walks down the center aisle of the car looking for a discarded paper to read. Finding none, he returns to his seat and begins fidgeting with his cell phone. He offboards at Montgomery Street station.

A young lady and young gentleman board at Powell Street station. The young gentleman has rosy cheeks and wears a winter coat and carries a backpack. While his sister immediately begins searching the car for the comics section of the newspaper, the young gentleman spies the indication. He picks it up and reads it to himself. He brings it to his sister: "Look what I found." She is unimpressed, particularly in light of her own discovery of an abandoned comics section. The two sit together, looking over each others' shoulders at the comics now spread across both their laps.

Performance Indication #34

subito dramatic






- John Zorn


Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2005, 7:14 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1520y)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations

The indication remains unobserved, sitting next to a rumpled copy of the San Francisco Examiner sporting the headline: "Happy Chinese New Year!"

Performance Indication #33

breathlessly, with élan






- George Crumb


Date: Friday, February 4, 2005, 6:50 pm
Line: "Daly City" BART train (car 309y)
Location: between Bay Fair and San Leandro stations

A young lady boards at Coliseum station. She wears a simple white sweater and a white knit cap from which flows long black hair. She boards the train and quickly notices a free seat which she just as quickly assumes without ever noticing the indication residing next to her. She clutches a grey satchel and a purple travel bag

Performance Indication #32

quasi xylophone






- George Crumb


Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2005, 7:31 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1569x)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations

A lady wearing a light blue sweater with a tan vest boards at Embarcadero station. Her hair is stylishly streaked and short-cropped, and both ears have multiple piercings. The lady takes a seat next to the indication without noticing it at first. Once settled, the indication catches her eye, and, after turning her head in its direction almost imperceptably, she takes a long look at it out of the side of her eyes . She squints and frowns and makes a little face while trying to decode its meaning. Having reached whatever conclusion she reaches, she rides on, listening to her headphones.

Performance Indication #31

be an hour late






- Erik Satie


Date: Tuesday, February 1, 2005, 7:03 pm
Line: "Daly City" BART train (car 1873x)
Location: between Bay Fair and San Leandro stations

The trains are delayed terribly this evening. After many fits and starts , the train finally creeps into Embaracdero station. As I offboard, a lady wearing a powder blue ski jacket and thick rimmed glasses boards the train. From my vantage point on the station platform, I peer though the windows of car 1873x and observe the lady heading toward the open seat upon which the indication rests. She picks the indication up and considers it. The train doors close accompanied by the usual warning bell "Ding-Ding," and the train departs the station. I see the lady take her seat and open a book as the train rushes off.

Performance Indication #30

seriously but without tears






- Erik Satie


Date: Monday, January 31, 2005, 9:12 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1554x)
Location: between Rockridge and MacArthur stations

A gentleman boards at 12th Street station. He wears blue scrub pants, a puffy blue North Face jacket (slightly reminiscent of the Michelin Man), and a grey hooded sweatshirt. He grabs a seat next to the indication, taking notice of it with only the most casual of glances. His eyes are half-open, and he positions his hand on his lap in a way that almost makes it look double-jointed at the wrist. He closes his eyes and tries to rest.

Performance Indication #29

insistent






- John Zorn


Date: Monday, January 31, 2005, 6:47 pm
Line: "Richmond" BART train (car 1831x)
Location: between Hayward and Bay Fair stations

A somewhat haggard gentleman boards at Bay Fair station. He wears a lightweight black jacket with heavily smudged red collars. His hair is a salt and pepper mix of grey and brown, and under his scraggily beard and moustace is a face weathered and tan from exposure to the elements. Upon boarding, the gentleman scouts the train for somewhere to sit. He discovers the indication and swipes it to the floor to clear the seat. Having secured a seat, he rummages through the rest of the train in search of an abandoned newspaper. Finding a paper in the back of the car, he returns to his seat, sits down, and begins reading the Sporting Green section.

Performance Indication #28

light as an egg






- Erik Satie


Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2005, 7:15 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1742x)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations

A heavyset man with a moptop of dirty blond hair boards at Embarcadero station. He wears a tan parka over a tan t-shirt. He deftly swings into the seat and proceeds to sit on top of the indication. He takes some reading material, lowers his head in concentration, and begins to read.

Performance Indication #27

calm without slowness






- Erik Satie



Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Line: "J Church" Muni train
Location: between Embarcarder and Montogomery Street stations

A lady wearing a dark blue overcoat and a bluish grey woolen turtleneck boards at Montgomery Street station. She nestles her bag and then herself into her seat while all the time listening to her iPod. She nevere notices the indication.

Performance Indication #26

like Glenn Gould






- John Zorn



Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2005, 7:03 pm
Line: "Daly City" BART train (car 423y)
Location: between Bay Fair and San Leandro stations

A thin lady with sad eyes boards at Lake Merritt station. She clutches a floral patterned purse while listening to music through tiny earphones. She chooses a seat next to the indication in the half-empty car. She sets her purse down, looks at the indication momentarily, and strums her fingers on the seat for a second. She proceeds to remove a notebook from her purse and jots down a few notes. She returns her notebook, settles comfortably into her seat, and looks out the train window at the Oakland shipyards as she listens to her headphones.

Performance Indication #25

on yellowing velvet






- Erik Satie



Date: Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 7:32 pm
Line: "Richmond" BART train (car 378y)
Location: between Hayward and Bay Fair stations

The lonely little indication remains untouched and unnoticed.

Performance Indication #24

gracefully, with elastic rhythm






- George Crumb



Date: Monday, January 17, 2005, 7:19 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1693x)
Location: between West Oakland and Embarcadero stations


A young gentleman boards at Embarcadero station. He wears a grey and black woolen sweater, and a charcoal blue-grey woolen knit cap covers his head. He has an unusually pronounced Roman nose. In a single move, he grasps the back of the seat and swings from the aisle into the window seat. Landing on the unnoticed indication, he slumps back into the seat and wedges his knees against the back of the adjacent seat. He folds his hands and closes his eyes.

Performance Indication #23

horse laugh






- John Zorn



Date: Monday, January 17, 2005, 6:46 pm
Line: "Richmond" BART train (car 1741y)
Location: between Hayward and Bay Fair stations


A lady wearing a blue coat over a black-hooded sweatshirt boards at Fruitvale station. Her hair is tied up in a bun with a black scrunchy. She wears her reading glasses propped on top of her head. She chooses her seat and takes a long look at the indication before sitting on top of it and making herself comfortable. She puts her glasses on and begins reading the arts section of the Oakland Tribune.

Performance Indication #22

laugh without anyone knowing






- Erik Satie



Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2005, 7:16 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1843x)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations


As the train barrels through the transbay tube, a young gentleman literally dives into the seat upon which the indication is placed. He is feverishly looking for his lost wallet and sports an expression of both alarm and frustration that anyone having suffered through the same experience would immediately recognize. He has no luck finding the wallet in car 1843x and moves onto the next traincar in his desperate search. He is much too distracted to notice the indication.

At Embracadero station, a tall gentleman wearing a tan overcoat boards. He discovers the indication and scrutinizes it for meaning. Having come to whatever conclusion he comes to, he proceeds to sit on the indication. He continues his ride with a slightly melancholy expression, head forward, eyes looking slightly downward.

Performance Indication #21

with the tips of your eyes...






- Erik Satie



Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2005, 6:46 pm
Line: "Richmond" BART train (car 1744x)
Location: between Hayward and Bay Fair stations


A gentleman boards at Bay Fair station. He wears a black watch cap and a puffy Oakland Raiders jacket. Without first looking, he slings his bag onto the seat, and in one fluid motion, quickly follows, and seats himself on top of the indication. He immediately becomes engrossed with his cell phone, never noticing the indication upon which he is now sitting.

Performance Indication #20

"ugh"






- John Zorn



Date: Tuesday, December 28, 2004, 1:22 pm
Line: "J Church" Muni train
Location: between Embarcadero and Montgomery Street stations


A gentleman wearing a skijacket and a baseball cap boards while listening to his iPod. His tenure as a train passenger is brief as he offboards after two stops at Powell Street station, never noticing the indication sitting next to him.

A second gentleman, clad in an orange fleece pullover and a tan knit cap, boards at Powell Street station. He too sits next to the indication scarcely aware of its prescence. He begins playing a game of solitaire on his cell phone.

Performance Indication #19

dance inwardly






- Erik Satie



Date: Monday, December 20, 2004, 7:32 pm
Line: "J Church" Muni train
Location: between Embarcadero and Montgomery Street stations


A lady with long black hair and thick rimmed glasses boards at Powell Street station. She picks up the indication, looks at it, and then furtively tosses it to the floor. She takes the seat, and the train continues on its journey under San Francisco.

Performance Indication #18

looking at yourself from afar






- Erik Satie



Date: Friday, December 17, 2004, 6:25 pm
Line: "Daly City" BART train (car 1851x)
Location: between Bay Fair and San Leandro stations


A gaggle of five buoyant young ladies (with one rather large young gentleman in tow) burst onto the train at San Leandro station. They chatter a mile a minute driven by whatever source of perpetual energy teenagers seem to draw from. Are they headed to a concert at the Coliseum? A big night in the City?

One young lady breaks off from the klatch, quickly scouting out the train. She discovers the indication and surreptitiously takes it. She grabs a friend, shows her the indication, and the pair begin scoping out the rest of the train for more "mystery notes."

Meanwhile, the remaining members of the group cluster and discuss the swollen foot of one of the young ladies. Eventually their talk devolves into an animated game of charades. Secretly and silently, the eyes of the other passengers reveal that they too are playing.

Performance Indication #17

on threshold of silence






- George Crumb



Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2004, 7:01 pm
Line: "Daly City" BART train (car 373x)
Location: between Bay Fair and San Leandro stations


A lady boards at Embarcadero station. She wears a tan coat, a black skirt, and black, thigh-high boots. She clutches an umbrella while listening to her iPod. She notices the indication, and gives it a good, long look before finally taking a seat on top if it. She sits upright, rather stiffly, and maintains a forward stare while all the time listening to music and holding her umbrella by the handle.

Performance Indication #16

exuberantly, with primitive energy






- George Crumb



Date: Friday, December 3, 2004, 7:18 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 312x)
Location: between West Oakland and Embarcadero stations


A serious looking gentleman wearing a brown leather jacket boards at Montgomery station. With a very proper air, he seats himself next to the indication, studiously avoiding any contact with it at all times. He soon proceeds to become engrossed with pushing buttons on his cell phone.

Performance Indication #15

like a cosmic clock-work






- George Crumb



Date: Wednesday, December 1, 2004, 6:47 pm
Line: "Daly City" BART train
Location: between Bay Fair and San Leandro stations


A gentleman wearing a brown leather jacket boards at Coliseum station with a small overnight suitcase in tow. He glances briefly at the indication and, after taking a seat next to it, sweeps the indication to the floor of the train . During the duration of his trip, he simply stares ahead, occasionally rolling his head. Perhaps the gentleman is weary from a long, cross-country flight? He offboards at Montgomery Street station, leaving the indication behind on the floor.

Performance Indication #14

quick!






- John Zorn



Date: Monday, November 29, 2004, 7:15 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1614x)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations


A tall gentleman boards at Embarcadero station. He stoops down and picks up the indication off the seat. He momentarily examines the indication with both puzzlement and interest. Having satisfied his passing curiosity, he drops the indication on the floor and picks up the "Datebook" section of the local newspaper. He then begins to read a profile in the paper about Dan "The Automator" Nakamura.

Performance Indication #13

steady as she goes






- Erik Satie



Date: Wednesday, November 24, 2004, 7:30 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1623y)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations


A gentleman with a shaved head and moustache boards at Embarcadero station. He is wearing white pants. He sits on top of the indication with nary a notice of its presence.

Performance Indication #12

Pandora's box... wham shut!






- John Zorn



Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2004, pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 344x)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations


A stylish young lady wearing a grey jacket with a furry collar sits next to the indication after boarding at 12th Street. She glances at the indication but leaves it otherwise undisturbed. She clutches her purse and looks around the car periodically as she bides her time to her destination.The train arrives at Powell Street station, and the lady offboards.

A gentleman boards and takes the lady's former seat. He too glances at the indication. Then, with his backpack resting on his lap, he closes his eyes and enjoys a catnap.

Performance Indication #11

mysterious and tender






- Erik Satie



Date: Monday, November 22, 2004, 7:13 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1700x)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations


A lady and gentleman board at Embarcadero station. The lady takes a seat, initially sitting on the indication. Noticing something unusual, she feels around the seat and discovers the indication. Meanwhile, the gentleman takes a seat next to her. She picks up the indication, studies it, and then reads it aloud to her companion: "mysterious and tender." They briefly contemplate it and then continue on in conversation.

Performance Indication #10

ticking clock






- John Zorn



Date: Friday, November 19, 2004, 6:47 am
Line: "Dublin/Pleasanton" BART train (car 1819y)
Location: between 24th Street and 16th Street stations

The indication enjoys a seat all to itself during its trip under the City of San Francisco and below the Bay.

Performance Indication #9

(let it ring)






- John Zorn



Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2004, 7:42 am
Line: "Fremont" BART train (car 1579y)
Location: between San Leandro and Bay Fair stations

The indication is set upon a seat and subsequently left undisturbed. Perhaps it will be discovered later by a San Francisco bound passenger when the train changes direction at the end of the line.

Performance Indication #8

make mistakes, drunkenly






- John Zorn



Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2004, 6:59 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1623x)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations


A lady boards at Embarcadero station. She picks up the indication, briefly surveys it for meaning, and then tosses it to the floor.

Performance Indication #7

boing!






- John Zorn



Date: Monday, November 15, 2004, 10:30 pm
Line: "14 Mission" MUNI bus
Location: southbound between Mission and 6th Streets


The indication rests undisturbed for a long portion of the journey until a gentleman, boarding at 16th Street, sits on it without a second thought.

Performance Indication #6

in a very peculiar manner






- Erik Satie



Date: Monday, November 15, 2004, 7:01 pm
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 419x)
Location: between 12th Street and West Oakland stations


The indication is left to its own devices.

Performance Indication #5

with bravura!






- George Crumb



Date: Monday, November 15, 2004, 6:32 pm
Line: "Richmond" BART train (car 1585x)
Location: between Hayward and Bay Fair stations


A gentleman boards the train and sits next to the indication. He does not notice it as his attention seems to be directed elsewhere.

At Lake Merritt station, a second passenger boards the train. He takes the seat next to the first gentleman, consequently sitting on the indication, oblivious to its presence.

Performance Indication #4

laugh without anyone knowing






- Erik Satie



Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2004, 7:20 pm
Line: "Daly City" BART train (car 1894y)
Location: between Bay Fair and San Leandro stations


A lady wearing purple scrubs, a blue jacket, and a purple knit cap boards at Coliseum station and promptly sits on top of the indication. She offboards the train at West Oakland station never having noticed the indication. The indication remains in place, a bit more wrinkled but otherwise unmolested.

At Montgomery Street station, a gentleman boards, taking a seat next to the indication. He opens a newspaper, briefly scans it, and then puts it down and stares off into space.

Performance Indication #3

as if emerging from silence






- George Crumb



Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2004, 6:17 am
Line: "Dublin/Pleasanton" BART train (car 1898x)
Location: between 24th Street and 16th Street stations


The train is nearly empty at this time of day, a temporary lull populated primarily by riders caught between the swell of workers coming off their graveyard shifts and the crush of "9-to-5"-ers heading to work. A gentleman boards and scans the car for a seat. He pauses to sit in a seat next to the indication, notices its presence, and then chooses a seat elsewhere.

Performance Indication #2

like a nightingale with a toothache






- Erik Satie



Date: Tuesday, November 9, 2004
Line: "SFO/Millbrae" BART train (car 1614y)
Location: between 12th Street & West Oakland stations


A lady wearing a black winter coat boards the train at Embarcadero station. Noticing a free seat where the indication is placed, she promptly brushes the indication onto the floor. She then sits on the now indication-free seat, opens a paperback novel, and begins to read.

Performance Indication #1

as if suspended in endless time






- George Crumb



Date: Tuesday, November 9, 2004
Line: "Richmond" BART train (car 1766y)
Location: between Hayward & Bay Fair stations


A gentleman wearing glasses secured with a clunky leash boards the train. He sits next to the indication and glances at it briefly. He then opens a magazine and begins reading.

About the Performance Indication Project

The Nuts and Bolts

The “Performance Indication Project” is a regularly updated documentation of my ongoing project on San Francisco Bay Area public transit systems. If you’re curious to know a little more about what’s going on here, then read on. Or leave it a bit of a mystery and just head to the diary entries above.



What is a “Performance Indication?”

If you’ve ever seen a piece of sheet music, you probably noticed nestled among all the notes some descriptive words or phrases, often in Italian. These are examples of "performance indications" and are used by a composer to convey to the performer how the music should be played. For example, a composer may wish a piece to be performed Allegro (quick, lively, bright) or Largo (very slow and dignified), Forte (loud or strong) or Piano (soft).

Where did these particular Performance Indications come from?

A friend first turned me on to these indications. They come from the works of composers George Crumb, Erik Satie, and John Zorn.

What exactly are you doing with them?

The moment I laid eyes on these performance indications, I fell in love with them. They weren’t anything like the familiar Allegros and Pianos I had come to take for granted. Rather, instead of limiting themselves to the standard conventions of musical notation, these composers created their own phrases and directives to instruct the performer how the music should be played. I find these indications really beautiful - like little snippets of poetry. Nonetheless, they are fundamentally directives. So as directives, I wondered if they could be employed as such, but in a different context.

As a frequent user of public transportation, I decided to print these performance indications on strips of paper and leave them randomly on the seats of busses and trains. In some ways, our daily life sometimes seems to be a performance, so wouldn’t it be nice once in a while to come upon a little guidance how to perform it? A composition of daily life with musical notation.

My hope is that passengers will discover a performance indication and then do with it as they wish. Perhaps they will enjoy the simple beauty of the phrase. Perhaps they'll just ignore it. Or perhaps someone will find the indication "with bravura!" sitting on their seat and decide to proceed through the rest of the day and perform... with bravura.

And for intrepid web-surfers like yourself, maybe you will find a performance indication to be inspired to follow.

Periodically, I’ll add a new performance indication to this blog, and then document people’s reaction (or lack thereof).

Enjoy!