John Cage Texture & Melody Flashcards
What is a chord?
A chord is when you play 2 or more notes together at the same time.
Give an example of where Cage uses chords.
Figure 17 (b52) in piano 1 part.
What is functional harmony?
Functional harmony is when chords are used in progressions to build towards a tonal goal. The tonal ‘goal’ will conclude with a cadence. For example V-I is a perfect cadence. Chords relate to one another horizontally, as well as vertically (i.e. the chord that follows sounds like it makes sense following the chord before).
What is non-functional harmony?
The opposite of functional harmony. This means the chords are simply used for a textural or expressive effect. They are not there to lead towards a cadential point or emphasise a particular tonal centre/key.
What does Cage use chords for?
Cage uses chords in a non-functional harmonic way. An example can be found in piano 1 at Figure 17.
What is the most prominent type of texture used by Cage?
4 part texture - one for each hand!
What does monophonic mean?
Monophonic literally means ‘one sound’. The word is used to describe music that has a texture of one layer, without any harmony. It was popular with Gregorian monks.
Give an example of Cage using a monophonic texture.
This occurs at bar 14 and bar 31.
Where does Cage use 2 part texture?
This occurs at figure 6, where the left hand in both piano parts is used.
Where does Cage use 3 part texture?
This occurs at figure 7, as the music builds, eventually returning to 4 part texture at figure 8.
Where does Cage use silence - i.e. no parts?
This occurs at bar 11 for 2 beats.
Why does Cage vary the texture?
This can be to build up the music within a figure towards a climax. It may also be to emphasise a particular phrase or note. To show structural markers. In general terms, it is to keep the music interesting to listen to, especially as it is very percussive/atonal (no sense of key).
Why does Cage use the occasional silence?
Silence may be used to show the end of a section or to give extra power and prominence to the section that follows (e.g. bar 210 into 211).
How does Cage distance his music from the typical Western concepts of melody and harmony?
By adding components to the piano, Cage has made the music sound non-melodic and largely non-pitch based. Although pianos are playing the music, much of it sounds like a piece for percussion.
Why does Cage want to create the non-Western soundscape?
He was very interested and inspired by world music, such as India, Africa and Indonesia. Also, he was living and composing in a post modern era, when composers and artists were pushing the boundaries of art with the desire to create something new and different.
