Cage

Question 1

Sonority/Performing forces

Answer 1

1. preparations of the 2 pianos-insert mutes between the strings of the piano keys. Pianos amplified in performance with mics.
2. different materials e.g. metal bolts and screws, rubbers. Not all keys prepared, only the ones used in the piece. LINK: cage water walk-making sounds with different objects used in everyday life. LINK Cage primitive also has prepared piano using screws and bolts.
3. percussive but retain some pitch. LINK- Cage Primitive
4. una corda figure 26- soft pedal, for piano then tre corde for crescendo after that, pedal at figure 79
5. dynamic ranges from ppp at figure 36, and ff at figure 64. LINK- Henry Cowell 3 irish legends uses fff, and Petals Saariaho ffff to pppp at stave 26

Question 2

Texture

Answer 2

1. mainly contrapuntal. LINK- Song of the Youths Stockhausen: many layers of children singing randomly
2. 4-part texture at figure 5. LINK- reich electric counterpoint b13-15
3. then monophonic 2 bars later. LINK- cage tossed as it is untroubled.
4. figure 6, 2 part texture. LINK: reich electric counterpoint b5-6
5. figure 7, homorhythmic. LINK: rite of spring end of mvt 3
6. melody-dominated homophony from phrase 38 LINK- Messiaen Quatuor pour le fin de temps: clarinet melody, piano chords underneath with violin fragments

Question 3

Tempo, rhythm, metre

Answer 3

1. fast duple time 2/2. note values mainly quavers and crotchets
2. repetition of rhythms e.g. opening continuous quavers in groups of 3, piano 1 LINK: Bacchanale Cage
3. polyrhythm between LH piano 1 and RH piano2. LINK: Pagodes Debussy INTERLOCKING RHYTHMS LIKE GAMELAN
4. Offbeat quavers LINK: Bacchanale Cage
5. longer note values to mark end of section/group, or a silence. longest silence before the last section. LINK- Cage and the earth shall bear again
6. Ostinato in last section in piano 1. LINK-pagodes Debussy BOTH ARE LIKE GAMELAN
7. moto perpetuo towards end of piece, giving musical drive. LINK- Cage our spring will come.
8. metrical shift figure 14 - Reich electric counterpoint

Question 4

Structure

Answer 4

1. micro-macrocosmic designed structure LINK- sonatas and interludes for prepared piano cage
2. the continuous quavers in groups of 3 related to Joomra Tal.
3. 9 sections, of 30 bars
4. each section bar lengths 2 5 2, 2 6 2, 2 7 2.
5. repetition of 3 quaver motif in piano 2 from figure 5 returns at phrase 64. LINK: 3 irish legends Henry Cowell for piano, mvt 1 repeated bass phrases

Question 5

Tonality and harmony

Answer 5

No sense of harmony, or tonality
No exact pitch, so no melodic line or harmonic content
No exact pitches as the piano is prepared
So rhythm and sonority prevail throughout