| Category: | Musical composition |
| Dated: | Black Mountain College, North Carolina, August 1948 |
| Instrumentation: | Toy piano or piano |
| Duration: | 8' |
| Premiere and performer(s): | August 20, 1948 at Black Mountain College, North Carolina performed by John Cage and with the dance. |
| Other performances: | * January 15, 1950. Hunter College Playhouse, New York. John Cage, piano. Performed with Cunningham choreography * April 26, 1950. Plays and Players Auditorium, Philadelphia, PA. John Cage, piano. Performed with choreography * November 26, 1950. Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association, New York. John Cage, piano. Performed with choreography |
| Dedicated to: | |
| Choreography: | Merce Cunningham: A Diversion (1948) |
| Published: | Edition Peters 6758 © 1960 by Henmar Press. Also published in "Works for Piano, Prepared Piano and Toy Piano, Volume 4: 1933-1952". Edition Peters 68030 © 2005. |
| Manuscript: | Score (holograph, signed, in ink - 20 p.); Directions for duplication for publication (typescript, signed, in ink by Cage - 1 lf.), both in New York Public Library. |
| The suite is in 5 short, numbered movements. Obviously it employs a very limited gamut of tones: the nine
white keys from E below middle C to F above. Movements I and V are limited to five tones: G to D. Only in the
movements III and IV all nine tones appear. The rhythmic structure is 7-7-6-6-4. The suite is one of Cage's most charming and whimsical compositions. It is a humorous and ironic piece, giving exaggerated dynamics that can't be realized (on a toy piano) from sffz to ppp. In 1963 Lou Harrison made an arrangement for orchestra (3333 4330 timpani, percussion, piano, celesta, harp, strings), published by C.F.Peters (nr.6758a). |