This is a composition in six untitled movements. It was written in a period when Cage was very confused and
sad, resulting from his imminent separation from Xenia. The result is a sad, lost and desperate composition. The title derives
from a collection of Irish folktales. The music tells the story of the dangers of erotic life and the misery of people seperating,
after having been together for long, as wel as the loneliness and terror ones experiences when love becomes
unhappy.
The piano preparation is moderately elaborate and the six movements have different rhythmic structures.
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