That cage was 'gimmicky' is easier said than proven Tosh. Did you consider
doing a little research before reacting? C'mon...you're just baiting us
modernist sympathisers, aren't ya? <snicker>
"I needed percussion instruments for music for a dance that had an African
character by Syvilla Fort. But the theater in which she was to dance had no
wings and there was no pit. There was only a small grand piano built in to
the front and left of the audience. At the time I either wrote twelve-tone
music for piano or I wrote percussion music. There was no room for the
instruments. I couldn't find an African twelve tone row. I finally realized
I had to change the piano. I did so by placing objects between the strings.
The piano was transformed into a percussion orchestra having the loudness,
say, of a harpsichord." john cage
"I was disturbed both in my private life and in my public life as a
composer. I could not accept the academic idea that the purpose of music was
communication, because I noticed that when I conscientiously wrote something
sad, people and critics were often apt to laugh. I determined to give up
composition unless I could find a better reason for doing it than
communication. I found this answer from Gira Sarabhai, an Indian singer and
tabla player: The purpose of music is to sober and quiet the mind, thus
making it susceptible to divine influences. I also found in the writings of
Ananda K. Coomaraswammy that the responsibility of the artist is to imitate
nature in her manner of operation. I became less disturbed and went back to
work." john cage
<zing>
/not flame bait?/
On 11/17/05, Tosh Cooey <tosh@c4.ca> wrote:
quoted 17 lines One time he sat at the piano and made no sound.>
> One time he sat at the piano and made no sound.
>
> Another time he dumped "stuff" into the piano and then played it.
>
> And another time he used the "I Ching" as a basis for a composition.
>
>
> Seems to me like John Cage was pretty bloody gimicky.
>
> Tosh
>
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