John Cage Structure

Question 1

How many bars long is each section?

Answer 1

30

Question 2

How many sections are there in total?

Answer 2

9

Question 3

Which 2 sections are the same?

Answer 3

8 & 9

Question 4

How can you tell when a section finishes in the score?

Answer 4

Double bar line

Question 5

How is each section sub-divided?

Answer 5

Into 3 units. The first unit has a bar shape of 2-5-2, the second 2-6-2 and the third 2-7-2. So the middle of each unit gets larger by one bar each time.

Question 6

What do the figures/numbers above the score mean?

Answer 6

They show the player the bar structure of each unit - e.g. in the first unit a number appears after bars, then 5 bars, then 2 bars.

Question 7

In the 2-5-2/2-6-2/2-7-2 units, how is each smaller section similar and different?

Answer 7

Sometimes the rhythm will remain the same or very similar (e.g. piano 2 RH b1-7). At other times the rhythm may change (e.g. piano 1 compare b1-2 with b3-7).

Question 8

What tradition inspired the rhythmic units for each section?

Answer 8

Indian classical music - rhythmic cycles known as a ‘tala’.

Question 9

True or false - the rhythmic content of each section is different?

Answer 9

True, apart from sections 8 & 9 being identical.

Question 10

In piano 2, how does the music at figure 13 relate to the music at the beginning? And why is this significant?

Answer 10

It is the same music.

The music is typically not the same from one section to another, so this is interesting.

Question 11

Why is a crotchet G significant in terms of the whole piece?

Answer 11

The note reoccurs on multiple occasions during the piece, such as at figure 2, 5, 14, 38, 55 etc.

Question 12

What is the most important element of the music?

Answer 12

Rhythm, followed closely by timbre (the type/quality of sound).

Question 13

What is polyrhythm?

Answer 13

When you have 2 or more rhythms occurring at the same time, but one feels like it is in a different time signature (metre) to the other one.

Question 14

Give an example of polyrhythm in Dance No. 1.

Answer 14

The opening unit of section one has piano one doing rhythms that feel like 3 metre, against the piano 2 doing a pattern in 2 metre.

Question 15

Why is piano 1’s part at figure 2 (bar 3) quite difficult?

Answer 15

The right hand has to play a rhythm in 2/2 metre, but the left continues to play quavers that feel like they are in a metre of 3.

Question 16

What does it mean when a note is described as being on an ‘off-beat’?

Answer 16

When the note falls on a weaker beat or a weaker half of the beat (e.g. in 4 time, the off-beat is beats 2 and 4)

Question 17

How does Cage help emphasise notes that fall on an ‘off-beat’?

Answer 17

With accents.

Question 18

What are the most common note values used in the piece?

Answer 18

Crotchets & quavers.

Question 19

When and for what purpose does Cage use longer note values (e.g. minims)?

Answer 19

To mark the end of a section.

Question 20

What is a septuplet?

Answer 20

7 equal notes in the time it would take to normally do 4.

Question 21

What does Cage use septuplets for and where?

Answer 21

As an ornament (decorating a line). They can be seen at figure 22, 23 etc.

Question 22

What does the term ‘moto perpetuo’ mean?

Answer 22

Continuous movement.

Question 23

How does Cage create a sense of ‘moto perpetuo’ throughout the piece?

Answer 23

Through the use of continuous quavers, for example at the end this is particularly prominent. This ‘drives’ the music onwards.

Question 24

What is a musical phrase?

Answer 24

A short section of melody or rhythm, perhaps only 2 or 4 bars long.

Question 25

What is metrical shifting?

Answer 25

When a phrase is repeated, but it begins on a different beat of the bar compared to before. This is also sometimes known as ‘rhythmic displacement’.

Question 26

When does Cage use rhythmic displacement/metrical shifting?

Answer 26

A good example of Cage using rhythmic displacement is found at figure 14. Here, a short phrase is stated beginning on beat one. In the next bar the phrase is re-stated, but begins on beat 2 etc.

Question 27

Define ‘fragmentation of a phrase’.

Answer 27

Fragmentation means breaking something down into a smaller unit. In musical terms this means taking a small piece (fragment) of a phrase and stating it on its own, rather than the whole phrase.

Question 28

Where does Cage use fragmentation?

Answer 28

A good example is in bar 46 (just before figure 15), where the phrase in the right hand of piano 1 is fragmented.

Question 29

What is note addition?

Answer 29

Note addition is when a phrase is repeated, but extended through the addition of a note.

Question 30

Where does Cage use note addition?

Answer 30

Cage interestingly uses note addition in bar 44 piano 1 RH. This is interesting, as it is combined with the technique of rhythmic displacement.