The PRISM saxophone quartet and the Curtis Institute of Musics 20/21 Ensemble join forces for a program that includes a selection of Freeman Etudes for solo violin (1977-80), Sonata for Two Voices (1933), Music for Nine (1984-87), Four5 for saxophone quartet (1991), and to close the festival Thirteen (1992), Cages final composition.
New Yorks Either / OR performs three of Cages final works, Four3 (scored for one or two pianos, twelve rain sticks, violin or oscillator and silence) and Two6 (for violin and piano), both based on a chance-derived score called Extended Lullaby, based on Erik Saties Vexations, as well as One5 for solo piano. Periodic performances…
"One7" (1990), for a solo performer, was written to celebrate the birthday of Cages friend Pauline Oliveros. It is one of a few Number Pieces in which there is no specific content whatsoever other than the time brackets. Cage instructs his performer to fill the brackets by any means of producing sounds. One can perform…
The beauty behind Cages Number Pieces is the simplicity and directness of their artistic intention, and their ability to be realized in an abundance of ways. Led by Michael Pisaro, this hands-on workshop reveals the ingenuity of Cages scores by allowing participants to create their own versions of the Number Pieces.
Relache, longtime champions of Cages music in Philadelphia, present an interactive and multimedia evening including Hymnkus (co-commissioned by Relache in 1986), Lecture on the Weather, the vocal work Litany for the Whale, and a brand new arrangement of Apartment House 1776, a worked based on early American fuguing tunes.
Pianist Margaret Leng Tan returns for a performance of one of John Cage’s most important works, Sonatas and Interludes (1946 – 48). Percussive and rhythmic, Sonatas and Interludes is a collection of twenty pieces - sixteen sonatas and four more freely structured interludes - composed for prepared piano, a Cagean innovation that uses screws, bolts,…
As with many of Cage's works, Song Books is indeterminate with regard to performance. In order to highlight the immense and open possibilities of the score, Cage: Beyond Silence offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience multiple versions of this work, further inviting audiences to engage with the ephemeral qualities of music so important to…
Talks, Workshops, and Hands-On Activities. Unpack Song Books with our expert guides. This beautiful score includes over 90 solos exploring a wide range of notational systems, including pictures, maps, and text. Participate in workshops and talks with Joan La Barbara, Richard Kostelanetz, and David Patterson
As with many of Cage's works, Song Books is indeterminate with regard to performance. In order to highlight the immense and open possibilities of the score, Cage: Beyond Silence offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience multiple versions of this work, further inviting audiences to engage with the ephemeral qualities of music so important to…
Taking advantage of the unique character of each instrument, members of Philadelphias venerable Network for New Music perform solos from Cage's Concert for Piano and Orchestra (1958 - 59), offering a broad sampling instrumental timbres and compositional styles. These works will be performed in tandem with the choreographed movements of the Merce Cunningham dancers on…
Cage often referred to his silent piece as his most important work, but does this piece overshadow his other artistic contributions, and most importantly, his craft as a composer? A series of talks and artistic responses explore the complex and interwoven ideas of 433 (1952) and beyond. Part of the Cage: Beyond Silence festival. http://cagebeyondsilence.com/
Virtuoso pianist Margaret Leng Tan, who began her association with Cage in 1981, performs an eclectic and far ranging program of Cage’s music for piano, prepared piano, and toy piano to live projected videos.Compositions include Works of Calder, Music for Marcel Duchamp, Cage’s score painting Chess Pieces, and Music for Piano no. 2, which will…
A concert program with Ensemble N_JP (Japan/USA), featuring traditional Japanese music and contemporary works by Japanese and American composers. The program will include the US premiere of Andolangen, a music-video composition by Philadelphia composer Gene Coleman, based on architecture by Tadao Ando. Celebrate Japan with a program that focuses on Japanese music, architecture and design…