Living Room Music



Category: Musical composition
Dated: S[an] F[rancisco], 1940 (October or later)
Instrumentation: For percussion and speech quartet with or without an instrumental solo with percussion trio
Duration: 8'
Premiere and performer(s):
Dedicated to: To Xenia (on caption title of 2nd movement)
Choreography: ---
Published: Edition Peters 6786 © 1976 by Henmar Press
Manuscript: Score (holograph in pencil - 10 p.); parts (holograph, signed. Lacking 4th movement - 15 p.); Draft of performance notes used in published edition (holograph in ink and unidentified hand in pencil - 1 envelope); Score (galley proofs with holograph emendations by Cage - 3+7+5+4 p.)


The first and last movement are to be played on household objects such as magazines, a table, books, the floor or using architectural objects like window frames. Movement 3 is a melody performed by one player on "any suitable instrument". This movement is optional.
The text of movement 2 is by Gertrude Stein ("The World is Round").