The Lab
2948 16th St SF
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sfSound presents
THE MUSIC OF CHANGES
a year long series celebrating John Cage's centennial

Variation VII

John Cage, perhaps the most influential composer of the 20th century, had a prolific and diverse compositional output covering a surprisingly wide range of styles and forms. sfSound's concerts have always featured a similar diversity of the experimental, electronic, theatrical, noise, and "off the page" musical interpretation/improvisation. A perfect match for festival based around Cage's music!

Our next Variation is a program focusing on Cage's most pioneering experimental, electronic, and noise music. Starting with early works utilizing 'non-musical' objects to generate sound [ Living Room Music (1940) and Radio Music (1956) ], we move to Cage's music for amplified objects from the early 60's. These works, epitomized by Cartridge Music (1960), feature graphic scores written on transparencies arranged by performers to realize various "events" amplified with contact microphones and phonograph cartridges. Although Cage was famously opposed to improvisation, these works require musicians who can make musical decisions based on real-time listening -- a skill honed by all the sfSound players!

Balancing out the program are two acoustic works: Music For ________ (1984-87) for chamber ensemble and a new work for improvisers by sfSound's Christopher Burns.



PROGRAM
Living Room Music (1940)
household objects and voice

Radio Music (1956)
one to eight radios

Cartridge Music (1960)
phonographic pick-ups, small objects, furniture, contact microphones, and amplification

Music for Amplified Toy Pianos (1960)
any number of toy pianos

0'00" (4'33" No.2) (1962)
a disciplined action with maximum amplification

Inlets (Improvisation II) (1977)
water-filled conch shells, a conch shell player using circular breathing and the sound of fire

Music For ________ (1984-87)
chamber ensemble

One3 (1988)
a hall on the edge of feedback

unlit cigarettes (for john cage) (2012)
a new work by Christopher Burns for four or more improvisers




PERFORMERS
Kyle Bruckmann, oboe, electronics & toy piano
Christopher Burns, electronics
Amar Chaudhary, toy piano
Daniel Cullen, toy piano
Tom Dambly, trumpet, furniture & electronics
Tom Djll, trumpet, electronics, & toy piano
Tara Flandreau, violin and electronics
Matthew Goodheart, furniture, electronics & toy piano
Matt Ingalls, clarinet, furniture, electronics & toy piano
John Ingle, saxophone
Hadley McCarroll, furniture & voice
Wobbly, electronics

Cost: $15 [$8 underemployed]

Audio samples in which musicians at this event play:

Videos featuring musicians playing at this event