| Category: | Musical composition |
| Dated: | New York City, November 21, 1984 |
| Instrumentation: | for unaccompanied low voice (e-d2) |
| Duration: | 4' |
| Premiere and performer(s): | May 14, 1985 at Symphony Space in New York City, performed by Joan La Barbara |
| Dedicated to: | for Joan La Barbara |
| Choreography: | --- |
| Published: | Edition Peters 67051 © 1985 by Henmar Press |
| Manuscript: | Sketches (typescript and holograph in ink - 33 p. Folder 623); Score (holograph in ink with annotations in red pencil - 8 p. Folder 624); Sketches (holograph in ink - 3 lvs), all in New York Public Library |
| These are eight mesostics written on the first three words of a text written by Chris Mann (Whistlin is did). Mesostics are poems
in the form of Haikus. The title of this work is a combination of a part of 'Whistlin', combined with part of the word 'Haikus'. Cage used MESOLIST (a computer program) to write these mesostics, which follow the Mink rule for a pure (100%) mesostic. This means that between two capitalized letters neither of the two appear. Sources: Paul van Emmerik: Thema's en Variaties; New York Public Library online catalog; Martin Erdmann: Chronologisches Verzeichnis der musikalischen Kompositionen, Schriften, Gespräche, Hörspiele, Bilder, Objekte und Filme. In: Musik-Konzepte Sonderband - John Cage II; Frans van Rossum: Enige bekende feiten over John Cage; Richard Kostelanetz: John Cage writer - Previously uncollected pieces |