Description
2001 Double LP reissue of the historic performances of early compositions by John Cage. Originally released in 1959.
Recorded in performance at Town Hall, New York, May 15, 1958. Performed by John Cage, David Tudor, Earle Brown, and many others. Produced by Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg.
This marked the first release of “Imaginary Landscape No.1”, composed by Cage in 1939. This piece is the oldest published composition in history to be considered an electronic work. It combined pre-recorded sinus frequencies (played on two variable speed turntables) with some percussions.
“Recorded live at Town Hall, NYC in May of 1958, this historic concert was a retrospective of Cage’s work from 1934 to the present. Here Cage’s interest in technology, Eastern philosophies, and the concept of “silence” and “chance” as related to composition come to the fore as he plays some of his most significant and controversial pieces of his career, several of which (“Six Short Inventions for Seven Instruments”, “She Is Asleep”, “Music for Carillon”, and “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra” [in which Merce Cunningham took the part of the conductor – the “living clock” – and David Tudor that of the pianist]), were performed here for the first time ever. This concert created quite a stir for its time, with many journalists and audience members loudly complaining “this isn’t music”! Includes booklet with comments by Cage himself.
Recorded live at Town Hall, NYC in May of 1958, this historic concert (organized by Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg) was a retrospective of Cage’s work from 1934 to the present. Here Cage’s interest in technology, Eastern philosophies, and the concept of “silence” and “chance” as related to composition come to the fore as he plays some of his most significant and controversial pieces of his career, several of which (“Six Short Inventions for Seven Instruments”, “She Is Asleep”, “Music for Carillon”, and “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra” [in which Merce Cunningham took the part of the conductor – the “living clock” – and David Tudor that of the pianist]), were performed here for the first time ever. This concert created quite a stir for its time, with many journalists and audience members loudly complaining “this isn’t music”! Includes booklet with comments by Cage himself.”
Six Short Inventions For Seven Instruments
First Construction In Metal
Imaginary Landscape No. 1
The Wonderful Widow Of Eighteen Springs
Sonatas And Interludes – Sonata I
Sonatas And Interludes – Sonata II
Sonatas And Interludes – Sonata III
Sonatas And Interludes – Sonata IV
Sonatas And Interludes – First Interlude
Sonatas And Interludes – Sonata V
Sonatas And Interludes – Sonata VI
Sonatas And Interludes – Sonata VII
Sonatas And Interludes – Sonata VIII
Second Interlude
Music For Carillon No. 1
Williams Mix
She Is Asleep (Quartet)
She Is Asleep [(Duo)
Concert For Piano And Orchestra
