| Category: | Musical composition |
| Dated: | At end of No.1: October 25 [1950]; At end of No.10: December 26 [1950]; At end of No.12: December 22 [1950]; Date on title page: January 19, 1951 |
| Instrumentation: | Flute, trumpet, 4 percussionists, piano, violin and cello |
| Duration: | 53' |
| Premiere and performer(s): | January 17, 1951 at Bennett Junior College in Milbrook, New York. Unidientified ensemble, conducted by John Cage. Performed with the choreography with costumes and properties by Eleanor de Vito, John Cage, Remy Charlip and Merce Cunningham. |
| Other performances: | * January 21, 1951. Hunter Playhouse, Hunter College, New York. Martin Ornstein, flute. Carmine Fonaratoo, trumpet. George Baber,
Carroll C.Bratman, Arthur Press, Ronald Gould, percussion. Maro Ajemian, piano. Anahid Ajemian, violin. Seymour Barab, cello.
Performed with Cunningham choreography * April 12, 1951. Meany Hall, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Suite from Sixteen Dances (Nos.3, 5, 9, 11, 16). Performed with choreography * November 14, 1951. Stage for Dancers, Brooklyn Museum, New York. Suite from Sixteen Dances (8 movements), performed with choreography * January 20, 1952. Hunter Playhouse, Hunter College, New York. Piano reduction, played by John Cage. Performed with choreography * April 22, 1952. Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York. Suite from 'Sixteen Dances' performed with choreography * May 22, 1952. Brooklyn Institute Theater, Brooklyn, New York. Unidentified ensemble. Performed with choreography * March 24, 1953. Lincoln Hall Theatre, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL. John Cage played piano reduction, with choreography * April 18 and 23, 1953. Alvin Theatre, New York. Ad hoc ensemble, with choreography |
| Dedicated to: | for Merce Cunningham |
| Choreography: | Merce Cunningham: Sixteen Dances for Soloist and Company of 3 (1951) |
| Published: | Edition Peters 6792 © 19.. by Henmar Press |
| Manuscript: | Score (holograph, signed, in pencil - 1+ 67 p.); Piano reduction of score, including titles not used in the final version (see below) (holograph in pencil - 28 lv.); 3 parts (photocopy of manuscripts in an unidentified hand with manuscript annotations in pen and pencil - John Cage's personal copy - 50+34+33 p.); 3 Parts (holograph, signed, in pencil and manuscripts by Morton Feldman and Christian Wolff - 50+34+34 p.); Sketches (holograph in pencil - 4 p. + 1 envelope); Directions to copyist (typescript - 1 lf.), all in New York Public Library. |
| Sources: Paul van Emmerik: Thema's en Variaties; Richard Kostelanetz: John Cage writer - previously uncollected pieces; David Revill: The Roaring Silence; New York Public Library online catalog; Paul van Emmerik: A Cage Compendium; C.F.Peters Catalog; David Vaughan: Merce Cunningham - Fifty Years |