| Category: | Musical composition |
| Dated: | N.Y.C., Spring 1952 |
| Instrumentation: | for a pianist, using also a radio, 3 whistles, water containers, deck of cards, a wooden stick and objects for preparing a piano; Score to be mounted as a large poster |
| Duration: | 6'40" |
| Premiere and performer(s): | May 2, 1952 performed by David Tudor |
| Dedicated to: | |
| Choreography: | --- |
| Published: | Edition Peters 6770 © 1960 by Henmar Press |
| Manuscript: | Draft (4 lvs.) at Galerie Inge Baecker in Bochum, Germany |
| This composition is probably one of Cage's first performance pieces. It involves, apart from playing the piano keys, the operation of a radio,
blowing different kinds of bird-whistles, shuffling a deck of cards and dealing them over the piano strings as well as the shaking of water receptacles. The score, consisting of 10 sheets, each with 2 half systems, should be mounted on the wall, as a large poster. In it, the events are notated in all detail (piano notes, radio-frequencies, actions with wistles etc.) and with the exact timings (in minutes, seconds and parts of seconds) . The title of the work is supposed to be changed to the name of the city where one performs the composition, followed by the date of performance. Steffen Schleiermacher for instance, recorded the work with the title "Arolsen, February 8, 1998". Sources: Volker Straebel: 'From Choice to Chance' (liner notes to CD: MDG 613 0787-2); New York Public Library online catalog; Paul van Emmerik: Thema's en Variaties; printed score |