KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ A Concert of Piano Works by John Cage and Sylvano Bussotti, 1 of 2
Analog Audio
Event Type
MusicOrigin
KPFAIdentifier
C.1967.08.31.c1.AProgram Length
52 minsPart
1 of 2Dates
1968-11-30 | broadcast| 1967-08-31 | created
Description
Howard Hersh interviews pianist Robert Moran about an August 31, 1967 concert he gave of piano works by John Cage and Sylvano Bussotti. Moran describes the graphic notation of several of the scores and some of the techniques utilized in their performance, including rubbing and plucking the piano strings directly, as well as attaching tape and placing objects in the interior of the piano. The first work heard is in fact a combination of two works by Cage, one a musique concrète tape piece called “Fontana Mix,” played simultaneously with an aleatoric score for unspecified solo instrument, in this case a piano. This is followed by two of Bussotti’s “Five Pieces for David Tudor” the first for prepared piano while the second was performed by physically manipulating the piano strings. The last work, also by Bussotti, is for piano mixed with a tape of pre-recorded piano music. At the conclusion of the program Hersh and Moran describe the reaction of some of the members of the Berkeley Piano Club and the audience that included threats to sue over purported damages to the Club’s reputation and its instruments. Both men deny that any pianos were harmed during the concert but differ over the audiences reaction, with Moran expressing distress over their displeasure, while Hersh expresses some regrets that the dispute did not lead to actual rioting, as might have happened during avant-garde concerts in the past.Genres
New musicAvant-garde
Musical Selections
Solo for Piano (ca.1957-58?) & Fontana Mix (1958) [both pieces played simultaneously] (16:16) / John Cage -- Five Pieces for David Tudor: No. 1, for prepared piano (1959) (1:40) / Sylvano Bussotti -- Five Pieces for David Tudor: No. 2, [played on interior of piano] (1959) (3:03) / Sylvano Bussotti -- Solo, for piano and tape [from “La Passion Selon Sade”] (1965) (11:04) / Sylvano BussottiPerformers
Robert Moran, pianoSubjects
New musicAvant-garde (Music)
Electronic music
Aleatory music
Musique concrète
Music, concrete
Prepared piano music
Piano music
Acknowledgment
Funding for the preservation of this program made possible through a grant by the GRAMMY Foundation.Related places
Berkeley (Calif.) (was recorded at)Berkeley (Calif.) (was broadcast at)
Related Entities
Cage, JohnBussotti, Sylvano
Moran, Robert, 1937-