Sounds of Venice



Category: Musical composition
Dated: Milan, January 1959
Instrumentation: For solo television performer
Duration: 3'
Premiere and performer(s): January 1959 in Milan, presented in an Italian television quiz-show called "Lascia O Raddoppia" (Double or Nothing), performed by John Cage
Dedicated to: --- (?)
Choreography: ---
Published: Edition Peters 6756 © 1968 by Henmar Press.
Manuscript: Score and list of materials (holograph, signed, in ink (score - 2 p.) and in pencil (list - 3 p.)); Draft of list of 20 items to be used in performance (holograph in pencil, with emendations in ink - 2 p.), both in New York Public Library.


This is a score for a solo television performance, involving 20 items to be used during the performance and 4 single-track tapes, 7½" per second and 3 minutes each. The objects and sounds reflect the city of Venice, including bells of various kinds, boat horns and a toy that meows like a cat.
The work was composed using the Fontana Mix. Together with Water Walk it was written for and performed in the Italian quiz "Lascia O Raddoppia", where Cage was asked questions (for 5 weeks!) on the subject of mushrooms. After these weeks he won the jackpot of 8000$ enabling him to buy a van for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and a grand piano. Every week Cage would perform one of his compositions, including the prepared piano solos from Amores, Water Walk and Sounds of Venice.