Yesterday was John Cage’s 100th birthday. Not that one; this one.

One of my favorite pieces of his is the 1947 “Music for Marcel Duchamp.” It’s written for prepared piano, which means that the instrument has been temporarily altered in such a way that it produces different tones.

Here it is, performed by renowned Cage authority (and 1973 Rogers High School valedictorian!) Stephen Drury:

By the way, the album it comes from—In a Landscape—is a beautifully played and thoughtfully programmed introduction to Cage’s earlier work. For $10, you really can’t go wrong.

posted by: Aaron Bragg  |  category: random thoughts  |  comments(1)