Kendall / MIT T Station
Ah, the sounds of Boston: the chirping of the walk signal, the cacophony of myriad car horns when you fail to jump the red light, and--my personal favorite--the Kendall Band. A series of interactive musical metal sculptures, the Kendall Band is noteworthy not only because it was created by Paul Matisse, the grandson of French impressionist Henri Mattise, but also because of the sounds it creates. Between the inbound and outbound platforms hang the three band members: Kepler, a 125 lb. metal ring with a hammer that strikes F sharp when its corresponding handle is pulled by commuters; Galileo, a long metal sheet that creates a thunderous sound when its handle is pulled; and, the sweetest sounding, Pythagoras, consisting of several long metal tubes, tuned to B minor. When its lever is pulled, momentum builds within its swinging mallets, which then strike the tubes, creating the most soothing music, echoing through the station. It is the most beautiful sound in all of Boston.
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