[silence] Cage's arrangement of Feldman's "Ixion"
Mats Persson
mail@mats-persson.se
Fri Feb 27 14:02:45 EST 2009
In the book "Merce Cunningham: Changes: Notes on Choreograhy (Edited
by Frances Starr) (1968) Something Else Press, Inc." you can read this
text (by Feldman):
"...each box being equal to MM 92 or thereabout.
The dynamics for each sound are freely chosen by the performer...(!!!)"
And later: ..."The John Cage tempo changes for "Summer Space" which
follow may be used as an alternative to the tempo given here.
Moderato
V2 Slower
I4 Moderato
V5 Faster
IV6 Slower on second measure at 'low'
III7Slightly faster at 'high' "
etc..etc.....
In the printed score (August 1958) - Peters 6926 (copyright 1962) -
Feldman writes : "... The dynamics are low, with an occasional loud
sound freely chosen by the performer.......IXION is scored for cellos
(3 to 7), basses (2 to 4), 3 flutes, clarinet, trumpet, horn,
trombone, piano."
I.e. 10 "parts" where cellos/basses is one part each. Minimum 13
players, maximum 19.
In the version for two pianos (not piano 4-hands) from 1/15/60
(manuscript at "Paul Sacher Stiftung") - copyright 1963, Peters
6926A, Feldman says nothing about the tempo, but "...dynamics are
free" (!!!)
In my recording of IXION, together with Kristine Scholz, (Alice ALCD
024) we try to follow the tempo indication MM 92 and the duration is
then 7' 30".
Mats Persson
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