Two6

John Cage

Two6 has been performed in Toronto…

In this work, Cage provides two lists of flexible time-brackets as well as separate materials to used by each player as follows: “For the violinist: from one bracket to the next, 1) silence; 2) a sustained interval played pppp as softly as possible (nearly inaudible) using from the gamut of pitches given any two, using harmonics or not, but sustained with imperceptible bowing; or 3) microtonal passages from the G string up to the E (between two half steps, six degrees are notate [diagram indicated]… Phrasing, use of silence, articulation is free, but play the tones that are written only once, searching with them for melisma, florid song. When durations or phrases are long, keep the amplitude very low (single short sounds can, however, be of any amplitude). Let successive passages be for a string of the same or higher pitch. “For the pianist: 1) silence; 2) part of an ascending gamut played pppp as softly as possible, giving no sense of periodicity (depress key silently until you feel the escapement clearing; knowing where that is, play the piano on the edge of audibility), sometimes after a ‘pause’ picking up with a tone or tones earlier played, continuing upwards; or 3) a fragment of Extended Lullaby (these are chance-determined variations of Satie’s Vexations).”

Two6

  • Composer(s): John Cage
  • Year of composition: 1992
  • Instrumentation: violin and piano
Concerts
5 May 2018
8:00 pm
Cage
In person
Toronto (Ontario, Canada)