Kendall Band
| Company type | Public art installation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Art / Music / Public transportation art |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Paul Matisse |
| Headquarters | Cambridge, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Interactive sound sculpture (Pythagoras, Kepler, Galileo) |
The Kendall Band is a three-component musical installation crafted between 1986 and 1988 by Paul Matisse, who is the grandson of the French painter Henri Matisse and the stepson of the surrealist artist Marcel Duchamp. Positioned between the inbound and outbound tracks at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Kendall Station in Cambridge, Massachusetts, close to the MIT campus, it was observed by approximately 12,518 commuters daily as of 2007. The initial construction cost of the sculpture was $90,000.
This participatory artwork consists of three distinct parts: Pythagoras, Kepler, and Galileo, each operated through levers located on the subway platforms.
Sculpture
Located at Kendall Station in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Kendall Band is an interactive sound sculpture composed of three musical instruments accessible via handles installed on both inbound and outbound subway platform walls. Each instrument is designed for use from either side. The materials incorporated include aluminum, steel, and teak wood, with teak specifically utilized for the hammer heads.
Commissioned in 1981 as part of the "Arts on the Line" initiative aimed at enriching Red Line stations with art, Paul Matisse completed and installed the piece in 1987 following station renovations. This program was pioneering in the United States for embedding public artworks within transit infrastructure.
To deter vandalism, Matisse strategically placed the sculpture between the inbound and outbound tracks, reasoning that it would be shielded by the adjacent third rails. Among Matisse's other notable creations are interactive sound sculptures such as his Musical Fence (1980), initially located in Cambridge and now housed at the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, Massachusetts.
Pythagoras
The Pythagoras segment of the Kendall Band derives its name from the ancient philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras of Samos. It comprises sixteen aluminum tubular bells, each measuring 2 inches in diameter and 1/8 inch in thickness, all tuned to a key of B minor. Bells with greater length emit lower tones, while shorter ones produce higher pitches. When a handle on either subway platform is pulled, teak-headed hammers strike these bells, generating musical sounds characterized by subtle vibrato caused by asymmetrical slits located at the bells' nodal points.
There are two separate but identical instruments—one positioned on each platform—each controlled by independent handles. The hammers are not directly connected to these handles to avoid excessive striking force; instead, rhythmic movement of the handles induces mechanical resonance that energizes the hammers. The particular chimes produced depend on how the handle has been moved recently. Despite this intricate mechanism, users quickly develop an intuitive ability to play without formal guidance.
Kepler
This section is named after 17th-century astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler. It features a 36-inch diameter metal ring tuned to an F♯, which harmonizes as a perfect fifth with Pythagoras. Operating a handle on either platform causes a ratcheting hammer to ascend until it releases and strikes the ring, which can resonate for up to five minutes afterward.
Galileo
The Galileo piece, named in honor of the renowned physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei, consists of a large steel panel approximately the size of a barn door. Functioning similarly to a thunder sheet, it produces a deep rumbling noise akin to thunder or the sound of passing trains when shaken by handles located on each platform.
Installation and repairs
Paul Matisse was unique among the original "Arts on the Line" artists for incorporating moving components into his artwork. Soon after the Kendall Band was installed, malfunctions began to occur, with the Pythagoras instrument ceasing operation even before all elements were fully installed. Matisse later admitted that including moving parts was a gamble but was confident in its durability.
Although his agreement specified that the MBTA would cover maintenance costs, the agency did not provide payment, leading Matisse to undertake repairs at his own expense. During these periods, he placed temporary signs where the instrument handles had been removed, eliciting mixed feedback from commuters—from criticism about public funds usage to praise for the artistic distraction and craftsmanship.
Over time, enhancements were made to bolster resilience. A significant upgrade involved installing mechanical clutches behind the handles that disengage if pulled too forcefully or quickly, thereby preventing damage to the sculpture.
Maintenance work could only be performed after 1:30 a.m., once MBTA train operations ceased. Although Matisse personally managed upkeep for years, he was unable to find any institution or company willing to assume responsibility. After roughly two decades, he stopped maintaining the piece, reflecting, “I just kept it going, and then at one point I decided that I was just going to have to let it go out on its own... Sort of like one’s kids. The time comes."
Decline into disrepair
In 2007, the MBTA provided a single $10,000 repair grant for the Kendall Band, but clarified it would not fund future maintenance. Consequently, all subsequent repairs were funded and executed solely by Paul Matisse. When he ceased repair efforts at age 74, the sculpture quickly fell into disrepair; four of the original six handles were removed, leaving only Galileo still operational.
The loss of original engineering schematics due to a hard drive failure necessitated reconstructing components by dismantling and measuring them directly.
Kendall Band Preservation Society
As MIT expanded its presence in Kendall Square and became a prominent supporter of the area's tech innovation hub, a student group emerged in 2010 dedicated to restoring the Kendall Band. Led by energy consultant Seth G. Parker and coordinated through MIT's Music and Theater Arts department along with Materials Science faculty, instructor Michael J. Tarkanian oversaw the project.
Approximately twenty students inventoried and repaired instruments; seven took part in dismantling the sculpture. Calling themselves the "Kendall Band Preservation Society," they commenced restoration efforts in April 2010. MBTA general manager Richard A. Davey endorsed their initiative. Their goal was to restore playability within months while aiming for comprehensive refurbishment and documentation over several years.
By May 2011, Pythagoras was playable from the inbound platform with ongoing work on other instruments. Despite this progress, deterioration recurred, and restoration was ongoing as of February 2018. Maintenance duties transitioned from Tarkanian to Steve Drasco, a physics instructor affiliated with MIT Concourse. As of November 2024, only the outbound platform's Pythagoras tubular chimes remain functional.