| Category: | Musical composition |
| Dated: | 1938 |
| Instrumentation: | unknown, including watergongs. |
| Duration: | ? |
| Premiere and performer(s): | July 2, 1938 at the National Aquatic Show, Olympic Swim Stadium, Los Angeles, California |
| Dedicated to: | ? |
| Choreography: | ? |
| Published: | --- |
| Manuscript: | ? |
| The location of the score is unknown. In 1938 Cage was an accompanist and composer for a modern dance-company at U.C.L.A. and was asked to compose music for the annual water-ballet of the swimming team. Because the music could not be heard underwater, Cage started experimenting with gongs, lowered into the water, which could be heard by the swimmers. He used this 'water-gong' in First Construction (in metal) too, and in other compositions. Sources: New York Public Library online catalog; Paul van Emmerik: Thema's en Variaties; Paul van Emmerik's A John Cage Compendium; William Fetterman: John Cage's theatre pieces: Notations and performances |