July 7, 2009
The early works of John Cage
I have been listening to some early works by John Cage. It’s fascinating to hear the roots of Cage’s later style in early 12-tone compositions such as Music for Wind Instruments (1938) and Metamorphosis (also 1938), and to compare these to the freer works that followed: First Construction (1939), Imaginary Landscape no. 1 (1939) and Bacchanale (1940), his first piece for prepared piano.
Cage said of Schoenberg, with whom he studied:
“Schoenberg was a marvelous person … He gave his students little comfort. When we followed the rules in writing counterpoint, he would say, ‘Why don’t you take a little liberty?’ And when we took liberties, he would say, ‘Don’t you know the rules?’ “
(Source: Cage’s obituary in the New York Times)
Here is an interesting video take on Bacchanale by Keith Troester, featuring a performance by pianist Stephen Drury.
