| Category: | Musical composition |
| Dated: | First piece: July 1946. Second piece: May - August 1946 |
| Instrumentation: | Piano |
| Duration: | 9' |
| Premiere and performer(s): | |
| Dedicated to: | |
| Choreography: | |
| Published: | Edition Peters 6814 © 1970 by Henmar Press. Also published in "John Cage: Pianoworks (1935-1948)", Edition Peters 67830 © ?. |
| Manuscript: | Score (holograph, signed, in pencil, with annotations in purple pencil - 6 p.); Directions concerning duplication for reproduction - 1 lf.), both in New York Public Library. |
| The rhythmic structure of the pieces is 3-5-2 for nr.1 (written in ten sections of ten
measures each) and 2¼-3¾-1¾-2¼ for piece nr.2. The pieces use a gamut technique, as applied to harmonies, which Cage later used in the composition of The Seasons. The 2 pieces are sketches for parts of this composition. The first piece contains most of the music, to be incorporated in the first Prelude of The Seasons, while the second piano piece contains material for Winter and the 4th Prelude. Sources: New York Public Library online catalog; Paul van Emmerik: Thema's en Variaties; William Fetterman: John Cage's theatre pieces: Notations and performances; David Revill: The Roaring Silence |