Perpetual Tango was written at a request of Yvar Mikhashoff, for a collection of piano tangos. Cage sent Mikhashoff a replica of the
tango from Erik Satie's 'Sports et Divertissements'. Cage took over the rhythm of Satie's work, but omitting and lengthening certain notes (similar
to the compositional means he used in Cheap Imitation). Pitches are unspecified,
but indications for the registers are notated, as well as directions for playing single notes or intervals.
Sources: Martin Erdmann: Chronologisches Verzeichnis der musikalischen Kompositionen, Schriften,
Gespräche, Hörspiele, Bilder, Objekte und Filme. In: Musik-Konzepte
Sonderband - John Cage II; New York Public Library online catalog;
Martin Erdmann: Liner notes of CD MDG 613 0794-2 |