Totem Ancestor



Category: Musical composition
Dated: 1942
Instrumentation: Prepared piano
Duration: 2'
Premiere and performer(s): October 20, 1942
Dedicated to:
Choreography: Merce Cunningham
Published: Edition Peters 6762 © 1960 by Henmar Press
Manuscript: Draft (holograph, signed, in ink, with annotations in black, red and purple pencil - 2p.); Directions for duplication (typescript - 1 lf.); Design for unused title page (holograph - 1 lf.), all in New York Public Library


11 Notes are prepared with screws, bolts, weather stripping and a free-rattling nut. The piece was written for the dance by Merce Cunningham and follows the phraseology of it.