Improvisation III



Category: Musical composition
Dated: February 1980
Instrumentation: For four or more musicians, each supplied with the same six different stereo cassette recordings of music or sound of a single kind.
Duration: indeterminate
Premiere and performer(s): February 26, 1980 at the City Center, New York City. Performed together with the choreography.
Dedicated to: ---
Choreography: Merce Cunningham: Duets (1980)
Published: Edition Peters 67845 © 1980 by Henmar Press
Manuscript: Draft (holograph in ink - 1 p. Folder 589) in New York Public Library


When used as an accompaniment to the dance 'Duets' (choreography by Merce Cunningham) the cassettes used are of traditional Irish bodhran playing. The published score consists of 2 leaves with (the same) written instructions: 1 hand written, 1 typed. The average duration of 1 cassette is about one fifth of the total duration of the performance. Each musician makes his own program, using 2 channels each. A program may include repetitions. The piece should be played ppp except for 1 crescendo to ff and diminuendo back to ppp.

Sources: Published score; Paul van Emmerik: Thema met Variaties; Richard Kostelanetz: John Cage writer - Previously uncollected pieces