My Music. My Story.
Kipp Normand ____
Words by Jennifer Delgadillo TUCKED INSIDE THE STUDIOS OF THE HARRISON CENTER, THERE’S A CAVE OF WONDERS WHERE SAINTSAËNS’ AQUARIUM PLAYS ON THE PHONOGRAPH. KIPP NORMAND HAS OCCUPIED THIS SPACE FOR OVER 18 YEARS. Looking around, one can see cutouts of butterflies, statues of saints, piles of books and other printed curiosities. Ornate mirrors, glass cases, royal-looking props and boxes with assembled narratives bring the chaos into focus: Normand is an artist. He is also a musician and a selfdescribed armchair historian. When you live a life like Normand’s, you are bound to accumulate beautiful, interesting things and their stories. Classical Music Indy invited Normand to discuss his relationship to music. Here’s the interview, edited for brevity and clarity.
Ecomusicology
WHAT ROLE DOES MUSIC PLAY IN YOUR LIFE?
22
I think music is everything. Of all of the forms of art, it has the most direct connection, I think, to the human spirit. Something about the sound can affect your emotions—sometimes just a song can remind you of the smell, or the sight, or the feeling of wind. Or even something from your childhood. It’s just so wonderful.