Cage-First Construction(P)

The rhythmic structure is 4-3-2-3-4, 16 times 16 4/4 measures. This is Cage's first composition using fixed rhythmic structures. The composer uses standard as well as many unconventional instruments such as 8 anvils, watergong and 4 car brake-drums.

Number of Players: 6 + assistant (Parts)
Difficulty: Grade 6
Instrumentation:

Player I: Bells, Thundersheet

Player II: Piano with assistant

Player III: Thundersheet, Sleigh Bells, 12 Almglocken

Player IV: Thundersheet, 4 Brake Drums, 8 Cowbells, 3 Temple Gongs

Player V: Thundersheet, 4 Suspended Cymbals, 4 Chinese Cymbals, 4 Anvils

Player VI: Thundersheet, 4 Muted Gongs, Water Gong, Tam-Tam, Suspended Gong

John Cage was born on September 5, 1912 in Los Angeles, California and died in New York City on August 12, 1992. He studied liberal arts at Pomona College. Among his composition teachers were Henry Cowell and Arnold Schoenberg. Cage was elected to the American National Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters and received innumerable awards and honors both in the United States and in Europe.