[silence] The percussion Number Pieces of John Cage

[Alexandre Popoff]

Here are the complete instructions for One4 :

"Six time-brackets for the 'left hand' and eight for the 'right'. 
Bracket times are in light face when they overlap adjacent brackets. At 
such points, the performer must find a solution that accomodates one 
bracket with the other. Either hand may help the other. Numeral on 
staves are cymbals and/or drums chosen by the drummer. The sounds to be 
made are either long (a tremolo with individual attacks that are not 
noticeable) or very short (without resonance, completely stopped). 
Dynamics are free. Only one sound per bracket."

I was waiting to listen to the Sound Aspects CD before posting, as it 
is performed by Fritz Hauser, for whom John Cage wrote the piece. 
However, one of the first sounds which are heard in the first 5 seconds 
is a single cymbal stroke, with what appears to be a soft mallet, and 
with resonance. To my knowledge, only the Amadinda group on the latest 
Hungaroton CD performs One4 with blocked resonances.

  Glenn Freeman wrote :

> (...)
> please provide all of cage's exact words/instructions for one4, here
> on this list. am not near a score at this time.
>
>

In what sense do you feel counterpoint in such pieces (especially in 
One4 which only has a solo line) ?

> Only the relations ... makes the piece something enjoyable.

> yes. a type of chance, but very strict and clear, counterpoint.
>

Cordially,

Alexandre Popoff