James Tenney plays John Cage 1/sound. at the Schindler House

[uhj4]

that's the real hardcore! love it!

[Bistle]

These are Sonatas VII and XVI. Sonata XVI cuts in at measure 8 at 2'49". Thanks so much for these videos!

[Asmita27]

is it just me or does this sound exactly like gamelan? If I would have just heard this piece n not seen it, i would have thought it was slow gamelan n would never dream it was piano even though I heard the tenth sonata from this series which still sounded like a piano. This is not exciting to me. Hes just doing what gamelan instruments already do, its like reinventing the bicycle! I do appreciate the genious it took to create these sounds... BUT... I am diappointed.

[PeaseSmith]

wow this is awesome.

x

[MrNoelJMIS]

I've always thought they sounded like a music box from another planet... nice job! Audience looks like a weird configuration...

[taxman3]

I think they're Sonatas 7 and 16.

Very nice performances. Wish I'd been there!

[smeezh]

awesome!!! nice job

[uhj4]

If you like experimental music, try TACUARA NOD, available on youtube

[nilbud]

Bollocks

[solgrevling]

That was cool.

[Fragglestickcar666]

Does anyone know if he's using the Bolhen-Pierce scale here. It certainity sounds like it but I may be wrong--if you know...let me know

[damaruinc]

No, I don't think so. As far as I know, which is based on Cage's own writings and what Tenney himself taught me, Cage just experimented with putting screws, erasers and other objects between piano strings until he got sounds he liked. He didn't have any tuning system in mind.

Michael Davis

Ottawa

[impy4ever]

You should also take into account that timbres for some keys were altered to such a degree, that the pitches written in the staff have only little to do with the pitches you hear when sounding the respective keys. I too myself have the impression that Cage was attracted by *some* melody-rythmic combinations, but looking in the score won't help much (and there's no obvious mode used not even in the score).

[RamblinTim]

Nice video, thanks for posting. (It's Sonata 7 by the way.)

[daposevvg]

This is amazing to see. Thank you.

I recommend to any one who discovers this

James Tenney's Selected Works 1961-1969

peace.

[badhorse3]

The late James Tenney is a friend of and expert on John Cage's music (as well as that of American 20th century composers). As such he is uniquely qualified to perform these pieces. Search for Tenney's own pieces such as his "WAKE for Charles Ives".

[sunaosama]

very good.