After 1943, Cage wrote few works for percussion alone, but in 1986 he said, “I remain a percussion composer whether I write for percusion or not. That is, my work is never based, structurally on frequency, but rather on duration considerations.”

Perhaps more than any other composer, John Cage can be considered the father of the western percussion ensemble. His early percussion works form an essential core repertoire for percussionists and remain fresh and compelling today. The events and ideas that inspired his involvement in percussion in 1935 became central to Cage’s entire philosophy of life and music.

The instruments he chose, the forms and structures he devised, the people he wrote for and the concepts he arrived at, continue to influence composers and performers.

This lecture/workshop is based on personal conversations with the composer and thirty years experience performing and conducting his works, occasionally under his supervision.

If teachers and students wish to perform, they may prepare works from the following: Quartet for Percussion – instruments unspecified – any movement, Trio for Percussion, First Construction in Metal, Second Construction in Metal, Double Music, Credo in US for percussion Quartet, Forever and Sunsmell for Voice and Percussion Duo, Imaginary Landscape Nos. 2 and 3, and Amores.

1:1/2 hrs. Robin Engelman