Anthology

For years he was dismissed as an eccentric exponent of arbitrary noise punctuated by silence. Now, however, John Cage is universally acknowledged as the most influential composer of his generation. Cages activities as composer, graphic artist, poet, teacher, critic andnot leastwriter are explored in this collection of readings by and about this avant-garde pioneer, covering his most innovative period, 19331970. The main concern of John Cage: An Anthology is, of course, music: here composers and critics such as Virgil Thompson, Henry Cowell, Edward Downes, and Michael Zwerin analyze Cages contribution to sound; Cage comments on his own works, such as Sonatas and Interludes, Cartridge Music, and Williams Mix; and the editor, Richard Kostelanetz, also includes Cages groundbreaking essay, Future of Music: Credo and his perceptive remarks about composers from Satie and Webern to Stockhausen, But this anthology by no means neglects the other aspects of Cages creativity. Cage writes fondly here of his collaboration with Merce Cunningham, the space-time avant-garde dancer and choreographer; Barbara Rose and Dore Ashton review Cages influence on the contemporary art scene; his poetry is both represented herein and analyzed by Kostelanetz; and his teaching is remembered vividly by his students. Including a newly updated bibliography, discography, and catalog of compositions, as well as more than sixty illustrations, this collection is invaluable not only for students, teachers, and scholars, but for all who take a lively interest in the growth of the avant-garde in the twentieth century.

Table of Contents:
I. Introduction, Conversation, Chronology * Introduction Richard Kostelanetz * Conversation with John Cage Richard Kostelanetz * Chronological Table of John Cages Life Ellsworth J. Snyder II. 1927-39 * Other People Think John Cage * Our Distinguished Dropout Richard Barnes * The Future of Music: Credo John Cage III. 1940-49 * People Call It NoiseNut He Calls It Music Pence James * Chavez and the Chicago Drouth John Cage * For More New Sounds John Cage * South Winds in Chicago John Cage * Summer Music: The Parks John Cage * Expressive Percussion Virgil Thompson * The Dreams and Dedications of George Antheil John Cage * [Sonatas and Interludes] John Cage * [Memoir] John Cage * Defense of Satie John Cage * [Cages Studio-Home] from Junior Harpers Bazaar IV. 1950-54 * Satie Controversy John Cage, with a reply by Abraham Skulsky John Cage, Abraham Skulsky * More Satie John Cage * Current Chronicle Henry Cowell * Inferential Art Richard Kostelanetz * [Williams Mix] John Cage * [Robert Rauschenberg] John Cage V. 1955-59 * On Film John Cage * [Letter to Paul Henry Lang] John Cage * [The New School] John Cage * [Two Short Poems] John Cages Class * [On Cages Classes] Al Hansen, Dick Higgins * Morris Graves John Cage * Art Review: Cage, Composer, Shows Colligraphy of Note Dore Ashton * [On Earlier Pieces] John Cage VI. 1960-65 * Form Is a Language John Cage * Ladies of the Monday Club and Gentlemen of the Faculty John Cage * List No. 2 John Cage * Live Electronic Music Richard Teitelbaum * Atlas Eclipticalis with Winter Music Edward Downes * [Cartridge Music] John Cage * There is No Silence Now Jill Johnston * [Poem for Edwin Denby] John Cage * [The Arts in Dialogue] John Cage * [Review of Variations IV] Eric Salzman * New York Mycological Society John Cage * A Second Fame: Good Food Ninette Lyon VII. 1966-70 * A Lethal Measurement Michael Zwerin * Cagean Poetry Richard Kostelanetz * McLuhans Influence John Cage * Re Musicircus John Cage * Environmental Abundance Richard Kostelanetz * These Days John Cage * [Cunningham Stories] John Cage * [European Influences] Daniel Charles, Eric Salzman * [Not Wanting to Say...] Barbara ROse VIII. Some Random Remarks * John Cage: Some Random Notes Richard Kostelanetz IX. Date * Cages Writings * Cages Compositions (to 1990) * Cages Cages Visual Art * Recordings