• Tan Dun
  • CAGE (1993)

  • G Schirmer Inc (World)
  • pf
  • 10 min

Programme Note

C-A-G-E (1993) described by the composer as a “fingering for piano” is dedicated to the memory of John Cage (1912-1992), friend and mentor to Tan Dun and one of the first Western composers to be profoundly influenced by Asian philosophies, particularly through his life-long devotion to chance procedures derived from the ancient Chinese “Book of Changes,” the I Ching. C-A-G-E explores all possible resonances of the piano which can be produced without using the keyboard (for example the production of overtones). Many of the fingering techniques found in C-A-G-E borrow from those of the Chinese plucked string instrument, the pipa. This piece is composed using only the four pitches C, A, G, E in all the different registers of the piano.

— Peggy Monastra


Media

Scores

Discography

Tan Dun: Piano Music

Tan Dun: Piano Music
  • Label
    Naxos
  • Catalogue Number
    8.570621
  • Soloist
    Ralph van Raat, piano
  • Released
    June 2022

Ceci n'est ce pas un piano

Ceci n'est ce pas un piano
  • Label
    ambitus
  • Catalogue Number
    96 925
  • Soloist
    Jennifer Hymer

Chinese Traditional and Contemporary Music

Chinese Traditional and Contemporary Music
  • Label
    Nimbus
  • Catalogue Number
    5477