Review
"These essays ... represent a significant contribution to understanding the uniqueness of Cage. Highly recommended." Choice


Book Description
American composer John Cage (1912-1992) was without doubt one of the most important and influential figures in twentieth-century music. He spent much of his career in pursuit of an unusual goal--"giving up control so that sounds can be sounds", as he put it. As well as composing around 300 works, he was also a prolific performer, writer, poet, and visual artist. This Companion celebrates the richness and diversity of Cage's achievements and provides readers with a fully rounded portrait of a fascinating figure.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

American composer John Cage (1912-1992) was without doubt one of the most important and influential figures in twentieth-century music. He spent much of his career in pursuit of an unusual goal--"giving up control so that sounds can be sounds", as he put it. As well as composing around 300 works, he was also a prolific performer, writer, poet, and visual artist. This Companion celebrates the richness and diversity of Cage's achievements and provides readers with a fully rounded portrait of a fascinating figure.

SYNOPSIS

This volume presents contributions by composers and musicologists that reveal the richness and diversity of composer John Cage, whose novel ideas included the development of the prepared piano and of the percussion orchestra, the adoption of chance and indeterminacy, the use of electronic resources, and other challenges to basic tenets of western art music. The chapters discuss aesthetic contexts; sounds, words, and images; and interaction and influence. Edited by Nicholls, U. of Southhampton). Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

FROM THE CRITICS

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