Beck’s Sheet Music Release Gets Exhibition

In August, Beck announced a partnership with independent sheet music publisher McSweeney’s to release a book of 20 songs. Titled Beck Hansen’s Music Reader, the release came out in December 2012. Additionally, the partnership behind it involved selecting renditions to post on McSweeney’s website.

Now giving Beck’s songs more life is an exhibition at the Sonos Studios in Los Angeles, which began on February 21 and lasts through March 24. The exhibition involves performances, visual art, and a contest to perform any of the 20 songs.

The Beck Song Reader Exhibition began with performances from Adam Green and Binky Shapiro, Nick Thorburn and Tim Heidecker, and Amy Regan and End of America. All acts performed three songs each on opening night.

Two months of preparation went into the exhibition, and along with the performances, Sonos is featuring artwork for four of the songs, including “Sorry,” with a self-playing piano, “Now That Your Dollar Bills Have Sprouted Wings,” “Rough on Rats,” and “Eyes That Say I Love You.” Performances of the Music Reader’s songs are another aspect of the exhibit.

The space further includes a studio with instruments and a computer, opening up the chance for visitors to record any of Beck’s 20 songs. After Beck reviews the submissions, his five favorite will receive Sonos Plat:3’s.

Although Beck won’t be present for the full exhibit, two of his band members – Joey Waronker and Justin Meldal-Johnsen – are holding a songwriting workshop in the space on March 1.