Scholarly discussion of the music of John Cage.

[David P Miller <>]

Hello again,

One thought that came up, since I posted yesterday.

If Cage used chance operations to determine the number of remarks in the 
Variations V and VII scores - and I believe he did - that would have an 
indirect effect on how these pieces are realized by others.  The 
Variations V score consists of 37 remarks, the Variations VII score only 
7. What this means, at least, is that if you only have the scores to work 
with, you already know a good deal more about Variations V than VII. Now, 
one ought to do the appropriate background work in any case, and the 
number of remarks still has an indirect relationship at best with what one 
actually performs. (There is no "thirty-seven-ness" about Variations V.)

Your main interest, I think, is in Variations IV. And now I have the score 
in front of me. As you see, it consists of written directions for the use 
of symbols on a transparency sheet in relation to a floor plan of the area 
where the performance is to take place. Cage developed the transparency, 
consisting of points and circles. It's very unlikely that any chance 
operations were involved in -writing- this score. However, the -use- of 
the score will mean, at least, the use of -accident-, as the cut-out 
points are to fall on the floor plan rather than being placed 
deliberately. Further, the sound events that take place at those points, 
typically, will interact in performance in unanticipated ways. So we don't 
have I Ching-based or otherwise systematic chance operations involved, but 
we do have a couple of moments in the process that escape conscious 
intention.

Best wishes,

David

On Fri, 16 Mar 2012, David P Miller wrote:

> Dear Claire,
>
> It's quite an interesting question. I've been studying and performing the 
> Variations off an on for several years, and haven't yet run into evidence 
> that Cage used chance operations per se in composing these scores, with a 
> couple of exceptions.
>
> The Variations V and (unpublished) Variations VII scores each consist of a 
> set number of "remarks". I believe Cage used chance operations to determine 
> the number of remarks and also the number of words in each remark - the 
> latter, at least, for Variations V. However, these two scores, plus the score 
> for Variations VIII, are to a great extent documentation, after the fact, of 
> events that had already happened. Cage did not compose the scores first and 
> then develop the performances. So the use of chance operations for the 
> Variations V and VII scores were a device he used to help him get the writing 
> done - they don't relate to the material or content of a performance.
>
> The scores for Variations I and II, as you probably know, consist of 
> transparencies with points or lines on them. I don't believe he used chance 
> operations to determine these - although for the "points" sheets for 
> Variations I, he may have used a technique similar to that for the Music for 
> Piano series - of highlighting "imperfections" on a drawing surface. That's 
> speculation, however.
>
> The other scores - Variations III, IV, and VI - consist (aside from written 
> directions, as in Variations I and II) of geometric elements, circles and the 
> like, also on transparencies. These are to be cut apart and used according to 
> the written directions.
>
> My main point here is that all of the Variations scores point to processes 
> for making performances - either creating one's own scores, or determining 
> choices on the spot. Any use of chance operations in his general I 
> Ching-based sense would have been peripheral, in that none of these scores 
> are to be performed -directly-. You don't sit down with the Variations I 
> score in front of you and "interpret" the points and lines as you might do 
> with other graphical scores. Chance, randomness, accident, serendipity arise 
> as you develop the processes these scores point to.
>
> It might also help to know what the author of the article said, whom you 
> quoted. (I've published a couple of articles on the Variations, so I'll be 
> amused if it was me.)
>
> I hope this helps, and if I have anything factually wrong, I'm sure others 
> will correct me. Also, if I can be of further assistance, please feel free to 
> write me directly.
>
> Warm regards,
>
> David M.
> Boston, Massachusetts
>
> On Fri, 16 Mar 2012 
>
>  wrote:
>
> > Hi, I am currently writing my undergraduate dissertation on Cage, and have 
> > come
> > accross an issue which I can't seem to find much information on.
> >
> > I am currently investigating the indeterminate aspects in Variations IV. I 
> > have
> > found in an article that chance procedures were used in the composing of 
> > the
> > Variations scores, but I can't find anymore on this. Most of the 
> > information is
> > on the indeterminate aspects of the realisation and performance, and does 
> > not
> > mention Cage's compositional process.
> >
> > I wondered if anyone could shed any light on this?
> >
> > Many thanks,
> > Claire Harris
> > Edinburgh Napier University