34′46.776″ for a Pianist (1954)

This virtuoso work is part of “The Ten Thousand Things” project. Notation is spatial, with space being equal to time. The material provided may be used in whole or in part, and the resulting work may also be joined with other time-length pieces to provide a solo or ensemble work for any combination of players up to 2 pianists, 5 string players, and 1 percussionist. Cage indicates that the title of the work performed be the length of the longest one included (in minutes, seconds, and micro seconds), followed by a suitable reference to the performers, i.e. 16′1 2.4068″ for a Pianist and String Player. The production of harmonics and use of the pedal is free, and noises are included, in 3 categories. The preparations fall into 5 categories and are chosen by the performer (defined by string and material, with actual placement and type of object), as are decisions about preparation changes during performance. Cage composed this piece for David Tudor, to be played together with 31′5 7.9864″ for a Pianist, which he wrote for himself. Certain specifics of the work are graphed. The rhythmic structure is 3-7-2-5-11. The compositional means were chance operations and the use of the imperfections found in the paper upon which the work was written.