John Cage - Sonata II For Prepared Piano

Sonata II perfromed by Boris Berman taken from the Naxos recording of John Cages Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• John
• Cage
• Sonatas
• and
• Interludes
• for
• Prepared
• Piano
• Sonata
• II
• Avante-garde

[guitaryoder1]

I understand that John wrote this stuff for dance music and that he wanted a percussion section but didnt have room in the pit for the whole crew so he made the piano a percussion section. So to me thats pretty damn brilliant that he invented an instrument. What have you done lately?

[Hyardacil]

I really don't see what is there not to like about this piece.

Perhaps you are coming to listen it with the pre-expectation of hearing an average piano and all those "alien" sounds put you off.

Just imagine that it is electronic music or something and you'll find that it's not that weird at all.

[elmreros]

@guitaryoder1 the piano is a percussion instrument, since ... ever.

[Zetsubou2113]

Very good guys. We've established an semantic error on guitaryoder1's part. Congratulations. Moving on. I second his sentiments on the brilliance of "prepared pianism" as it were.

[tigressive]

I suddenly have the urge to hit someone with a chair...

[guitaryoder1]

I prefer to burn pianos. It makes cool sounds when the strings start popping, and after about 9 beers you can eat the pig that's been roasting on it.

[MuzicMan118]

@guitaryoder1 I'm sorry but a Piano is a form of percussion instrument based on the mechanics of how it produces sound. there are strings yes, but the method of playing is in fact hitting or striking the keys. Not only does the player strike the keys, but that in turn cause little hammers to again strike the strings. This is the essence of a percussion instrument.

[magnalbatross]

@guitaryoder1 Absolutely! A guitar or bass are percussion if they are played as such. But their basic mode is as a string instrument.

When I do instrument families with my first grade classes, I show them that the piano fits into both string and percussion families. Once they get a chance to look inside and see how it works, they understand why before I have to tell them.

[guitaryoder1]

@bananaphone951 By this definition then, a guitar is a percussion instrument. And so is a funk bass. I understand what you are saying but as a strings player, I will say that the piano is just a big HARP and there is a reason they don't put the piano next to the marimba and the snare drum in a concert. And how come they dont have percussionists perform Beethoven Sonatas on piano?

[bananaphone951]

@guitaryoder1 The definition of a percussion instrument is "a musical instrument in which the sound is produced by one object striking another." You're right, a harpsichord is not a percussion instrument. However, the piano is more than a loud HARPsichord- it creates sound quite differently. The piano hammer strikes the strings; thus, percussion. Ask any jazz musician, he or she will confirm this. I did not intend for my comment to criticize anything.

~A Pianist and John Cage fan.

[guitaryoder1]

@bananaphone951 I guess that is all that you have to add? criticism and brainless chatter about nothing? The piano is a harp! or a psaltery. I dont ever remember hearing about the piano OR the harpsichord OR the organ OR the virginal OR the psaltery OR the harp ever being in the percussion section until John Cage put it there. Piano is a loud HARPsichord. Not a DRUMsichord.