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John Cage: rhythm over melody, and the I Ching

Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore shine new light on the 'modern' music of the 20th century. This week, Kate explores the music of a pivotal figure in 20th Century music: John Cage.

Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore present BBC Radio 3's series about major 'modern' musical works of the 20th century, the groundbreaking composers who created them, and the radical cultural and artistic movements which gave rise to them.

In this episode, Kate uncovers the creative journey which led to John Cage's 1951 Concerto for prepared piano and orchestra. By way of introduction to this piece, we will hear part of a radical work by one of Cage's own musical heroes Erik Satie, discover the influence of an unlikely early musical ally, and discover how a gift from a student revolutionised Cage's art and led to instrumental techniques which influenced a generation of avant-garde musicians.

Produced by Sam Phillips
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3

59 minutes

Last on

Sun 21 Sep 202521:00
BBC Radio 3

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Witold Lutoslawski: fate, struggle and controlling chance

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Music Played

  • John Cage

    Concerto for Prepared Piano and Orchestra

    Performer: Margaret Leng Tan. Orchestra: American Composers Orchestra. Conductor: Dennis Russell Davies.
    • Cage: The Seasons.
    • ECM.

  • Irving Gordon

    Unforgettable

    Performer: Nat King Cole.
    • The Unforgettable Nat King Cole.
    • Capitol Records.

  • John Cage

    Sonata No. 1

    Performer: Boris Berman.
    • Cage: Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano.
    • NAXOS.

  • Erik Satie

    Vexations - variations 67-71 (excerpt)

    Performer: Noriko Ogawa.
    • Satie: Vexations, Vol. 3.
    • BIS.

  • Arnold Schoenberg

    String Quartet no 4 - II. Comodo

    Ensemble: Leipziger Streichquartett.
    • Schoenberg: String Quartet No. 3 & Verklärte Nacht.
    • MDG.

  • Johanna Beyer

    Percussion Suite I.

    Ensemble: Meehan/Perkins Duo.
    • Restless, Endless, Tactless.
    • NEW WORLD.

  • Gita Sarabhai

    Gitaben's Composition

    Performer: Gita Sarabhai.
    • The NID Tapes: Electronic Music from India 1969-1972.
    • state51.

  • Christian Wolff

    Duo for pianists (version 1)

    Performer: David Tudor. Performer: John Cage.
    • David Tudor: Piano Avant-Garde (1956-60).
    • hat.

  • John Cage

    Concerto for Prepared Piano and Orchestra

    Performer: Margaret Leng Tan. Orchestra: American Composers Orchestra. Conductor: Dennis Russell Davies.
    • Cage: The Seasons.
    • ECM.

  • David Fennessy

    Piano Trio

    Performer: David Fennessy. Ensemble: Psappha.
    • Panopticon.
    • NMC.

Broadcast

  • Sun 21 Sep 202521:00
    BBC Radio 3