| Category: | Musical composition |
| Dated: | New York City, 1978 |
| Instrumentation: | for cello and/or for piano solo |
| Duration: | 15' - 20' |
| Premiere and performer(s): | |
| Dedicated to: | for Jack and Jeanne Kirstein (originally). The piano part is now dedicated to Michael Pugliese |
| Choreography: | |
| Published: | Edition Peters 66327-66328 © 1981 by Henmar Press |
| Manuscript: | Sketches: star-chart tracings for piano part (holograph in pencil and ink - 1+8 lvs. Folder 1017); Sketches: star-chart tracings for piano part (holograph in pencil and ink - 3 lvs. Folder 1016); Sketches: star-chart tracings for piano part (holograph in pencil - 2 lvs. Folder 575); Sketches for piano part (holograph in pencil and ink - 6 lvs. Folder 574); Cello part, incomplete (photocopy of holograph - 15 lvs. Folder 573); Cello part (galley proof with holographic annotations in ink - 8 p. Folder 1015); Cello part (copyist's manuscript - 9 lvs. Folder 1014); Notes for cello part (holograph in pencil and ink - 13 lvs. Folder 570); Sketches: star-chart tracings for cello part (holograph in pencil - 2 lvs. Folder 571); Sketches (holograph in pencil - 7 lvs. Folder 572), all at New York Public Library. |
| The piano part is actually a composition for percussion. Cage used the star-charts of the Atlas Borealis for
composing this work. In the cello part pitch, duration, articulation, color and dynamics are notated precisely for every sound.
Sources: Paul van Emmerik: Thema's en Variaties, Richard Kostelanetz: John Cage writer - Previously uncollected pieces; New York Public Library online catalog; Frances-Marie Uitti: Liner notes for CD Etcetera KTC 2016. |