| Category: | Musical composition |
| Dated: | Movement 1: 4/7/38; movement 2: 4/14/38; movement 3: 5/1/38; movement 4: 5/8/38; at the end: May 20, 1938, Seatlle. |
| Instrumentation: | Piano |
| Duration: | 15' |
| Premiere and performer(s): | October 10, 1938 at the Sorrento, Pro Musica, Seattle, Wahington. Performed by John Cage, piano |
| Dedicated to: | |
| Choreography: | --- |
| Published: | Edition Peters 6723 © 1961 by Henmar Press. Also published in "John Cage: Pianoworks (1935-1948)", Edition Peters 67830 © ?. |
| Manuscript: | Score (Copyist's manuscript in ink, with holgraphic signature on title page - 11 p).; Score (holograph in ink, signed - 23 p.), both at New York Public Library. |
| Originally Cage entitled it "A metamorphosis" and "A metamorphosis: piano music, op.2". Cage's last work in serial and contrapuntal style is in 5 parts. Cage mentions: it is "wholly composed of row fragments never subjected to variation. The transpositions of the fragments follow the intervals of the series". Sources: Paul van Emmerik: Thema's en Variaties; Paul van Emmerik's A John Cage Compendium; C.F.Peters Catalog; New York Public Library online catalog; Frans van Rossum: Enige bekende feiten over John Cage; Richard Kostelanetz: John Cage: Writer - Previously uncollected pieces) |