John Cage's theatre pieces : notations and performances / by William Fetterman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Fetterman, William, author.

Series:

Contemporary music studies ; Volume 11.

Contemporary music studies, 0891-5415 ; v. 11

Contemporary music studies ; Volume 11

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cage, John--Criticism and interpretation.

Cage, John.

Music--20th century--History and criticism.

Music.

Composition (Music).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (282 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Amsterdam, The Netherlands : Harwood Academic Publishers ; New York : Routledge, c1996.

New York : Routledge, 1996.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The experimental composer John Cage (1912-1992) is best known for his works in percussion, prepared piano and electronic music, but he is also acknowledged to be one of the most significant figures in 20th century theatre. This text examines his works in theatre.

The experimental composer John Cage (1912-1992) is best known for his works in percussion, prepared piano, and electronic music, but he is also acknowledged to be one of the most significant figures in 20th century theatre. In Cage's work in theatre composition there is a blurring of the distinctions between music, dance, literature, art and everyday life. Here, William Fetterman examines the majority of those compositions by Cage which are audial as well as visual in content, beginning with his first work in this genre in 1952, and continuing through 1992. Much of the information in this study comes from previously undocumented material discovered among the unpublished scores and notes of Cage and his frequent collaborator David Tudor, as well as author's interviews with Cage and with individuals closely associated with his work, including David Tudor, Merce Cunningham, Bonnie Bird, Mary Caroline Richards, and Ellsworth Snyder. The experimental composer John Cage (1912-1992) is best known for his works in percussion, prepared piano, and electronic music, but he is also acknowledged to be one of the most significant figures in 20th century theatre. In Cage's work in theatre composition there is a blurring of the distinctions between music, dance, literature, art and everyday life. Here, William Fetterman examines the majority of those compositions by Cage which are audial as well as visual in content, beginning with his first work in this genre in 1952, and continuing through 1992. Much of the information in this study comes from previously undocumented material discovered among the unpublished scores and notes of Cage and his frequent collaborator David Tudor, as well as author's interviews with Cage and with individuals closely associated with his work, including David Tudor, Merce Cunningham, Bonnie Bird, Mary Caroline Richards, and Ellsworth Snyder.

Contents:

1. Early compositions and dance accompaniments

2. Water music, Water walk and Sounds of Venice : early variations

3. Music walk, and Cartridge music : variations in complex indetermindate notation

4. 4'33", 0'00", solos in Song books, WGBH-TV, and One3 : variations on a disciplined action

5. The untitled event at Black Mountain College, Theatre piece, solos Song Books, and Dialogue : variations on small-group simultaneities

6. The musicircus : variations on large-group simultaneities

7. Song books : general performances and specific solos

8. Europeras 1-5 : the final theatre pieces

9. John Cage as a performer.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical reference (p. [256]-271) and indexes.

Description based on metadata supplied by the publisher and other sources.

ISBN:

1-136-64564-0

0-203-05944-1

1-283-71090-0

1-136-64557-8

9780203059449

OCLC:

817889013