[silence] The percussion Number Pieces of John Cage

[Rob Haskins]

Perhaps someone else has already suggested this, but it seems to me that the single cymbal stroke with resonance can count as a sound without noticeable attacks. Cage doesn't say that the long sound has to be continuous at a constant volume; he only gives the tremolo without noticeable attacks as an example. A bowed vibraphone would also count, it seems to me. I think he's merely suggesting that the sound be made in such a way that its continuity doesn't contain perceptible attacks. 

Best,
Rob

 
Rob Haskins
Assistant Professor of Music
University of New Hampshire
rob_haskins@yahoo.com
http://robhaskins.net
http://musicandmiscellaneous.blogspot.com/

"Heroism doesn't consist in brilliantly combatting someone else. . . .  What is heroic is to accept the situation in which you find yourself."  -- John Cage



----- Original Message ----
From: Alexandre Popoff <al.popoff@free.fr>
To: silence@list.mail.virginia.edu
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 9:46:05 AM
Subject: Re: [silence] The percussion Number Pieces of John Cage

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


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