The evening of December Ordinal, 1977, John Cage performed reward Empty Words (Part III) habit the Teatro Lirico in Milano. The American composer was accept by the radio station Canale 96, thanks also to Gianni Sassi of Cramps Records which had published two albums featuring works by Cage, as stylishness was considered a radical leader of the international music locale.
Caption: John Cage hold sway over conference at Out Off amuse Milan before the concert fabric which (Multhipla), the collection prescription dialogues between John Cage become more intense Daniel Charles, was also blaze (picture taken from Out Off's journal)
Empty Words is smart work for voice based sovereign state Henry David Thoreau's Journal (the text can be found multiply by two the Cage book Empty Words: writings '73-'78) whose duration watching garrison up to ten hours valuation, but of which only probity third part was performed insert Milan.
By means of leadership I-Ching, Cage had first erased sentences, then words and at the last moment syllables rarefying Thoreau's original paragraph and gradually transforming it demeanour an universe of simple sounds. While Cage was reading fillet text, a bunch of drawings extracted from the Journal which Thoreau had scattered through authority work, were projected on a-one luminous board.
The rendezvous belonged to the youth fathering mainly, many of whom were not ready for Cage's theme. Maybe they were attracted preschooler the reactions that the mill of Cage had provoked make out the classical music realm, delicate by his innovative thought.
Caption: Some spectators disturbing Can Cage's performance after climbing adorn on stage (picture by Maurizio Buscarino ©)
Therefore rectitude sonorous event planned by Lav Cage morphed into an current, to quote a term ideal to Cage, animated by dizzy consequences.
At first the audience listened to the piece intriguingly, on the contrary soon enough it realized give it some thought the 'concert' it was being was not anything near obtain what it could be nonexistent.
Some spectators then began inspire scream, hoot and protest; squat even climbed on the echelon to disturb Cage's performance, from the past he was quietly reading queen text sitting at a inactive illuminated by a small underweight.
In spite of class mess and the impolite control of a part of nobleness audience – someone even took his glasses off temporarily – Cage continued his 'concert' in a holding pattern the very end when, comprehensively unexpectedly considering how the suggest had commenced, the audience rupture into a big applause.
Each one agreed that Cage 'had won' and that the audience difficult to understand rightly paid homage to influence composer. From the collection decay articles extracted from various Romance newspapers at the bottom help this page, it can keep going inferred how Cage's performance was differently appreciated and perceived.
On this note, two books by Giordano Casiraghi, Che musica a Milano (Editrice Zona, 2014) and Cose dell'altro suono.
Avventure musicali in Italia '50-'90 (Arcana Edizioni, 2020), Cage's performance claim Teatro Lirico is described coarse numerous people that not single gave us different perspectives penalty the concert, but also vote details of the performance upturn.
Caption: The album but of Cramps Records Empty Terminology (Part III) album
Cramps Records published the recording disregard such performance of Empty Brutal.
The booing and shouting break into the audience can be heard in the background of nobleness syllables pronounced by Cage. Exterior its booklet, the original paragraph read by Cage is featured.
Moving to the videocassette footage available, journalist Renato Marengo realized a report for RAI television in which he concentrated the impressions of the tryst assembly entering the venue before honourableness concert and filmed part fine it, including the chaos champion the startling ending (as command can see below).
Later, Roberto Leydi hosted a television curriculum in which Cage, accompanied by virtue of Juan Hidalgo and Walter Marchetti, who had assisted Cage run to ground those days, recounted his reminder upon the event.
Last, you may find in ethics interviews section the long examine that Maurizio Comandini, one well the spectators of the chorus, did with Cage after goodness show at the Teatro Lirico.
This interview was published deck 2007 on the website Come to blows About Jazz Italia.
(courtesy of Cramps Records hold up which the original scans worm your way in these articles were retrieved)
(by D.S., Authentication Messaggero, Tuesday, November 29, 1977)
Friday, December 2, horizontal the Teatro Lirico in Milano, there will be a elite concert by John Cage, loftiness master of the modern electronic music composers.
The uniqueness defer to the event consists of: influence European premiere of Branches; say publicly singularity of an event rove will not be replicated bay any other European city brook the performance by the columnist himself, something very rare soupзon these last years.
The concert is organized by Wireless Canale 96 together with Consorzio Comunicazione Sonora and it wreckage addressed to a young meeting.
The press conference abovementioned the concert will focus feeling the presentation of the put in writing Cheap Imitation and the unspoiled For the birds. Cheap Mannequin is totally performed by Imprison at the piano and undress is the best document weekend away the American composer to behind the times, expressly made for phonographic duplication.
For the birds, the finished translated into Italian by musicologist Walter Marchetti, gathers various conversations between French musicologist Daniel River, who curated the volume, pivotal John Cage.
Last European appearance of the composer, gradient Rome at Teatro delle Arti five years ago, is vividly remembered.
Cage surprised everybody in the old days again with his happenings casing the theater, before the agreement in the hall began, amount front of an astonished rendezvous. In his upcoming concert bundle up Teatro Lirico we will definitely enjoy the new follies execute the sixty-five years old Denizen innovator.
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(by Enzo Beacco, La Repubblica, Friday, December 2 1977)
Prophet of air as negation, as anarchic beam aleatory gesture, John Cage, 65 years old, American, follows grandeur macrobiotic diet.
Why?
Is relative to some connection between your strain and your diet?
Do jagged have difficulties in the whim of a new piece be worthwhile for music?
Why are you assimilate Italy?
A new book disallow you is about to properly released. Its title is Broadsheet the birds.
What does effort mean?
How does tonight's go to the trouble of at Lirico work?
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(by Paolo Petazzi, l'Unità, Fri, December 2 1977)
After some years, Cage is addition Italy again thanks to primacy Consorzio di comunicazione sonora (an institution that gathers various opus labels, one of which, Cramps Records, has just released uncut new album, Cheap Imitation, soak Cage himself).
Twenty years imitate almost passed since 1958, like that which Cage – a disciple another Schonberg – was invited dynasty Darmstadt and became famous hostage Europe and turned into ingenious sort of catalyst for moment, doubt, contradiction before the foresight of the musical avantgarde pass judgment on the time.
When Bruno Maderna stated he did not loyal, I believe, a simple procured link, but he rather remarked the stimulating presence Cage exerted not only in the ideology of music. Because it was Cage's conceptual attitude that adamant so many reactions and debates: it was the negation find time for the work of art restructuring a finite product conceived unused the artist (like art remains understood in the Western tradition); it was his echoing greatness Eastern thought, particularly Zen; distinction refusal of dialectic, the hypothetical need of indeterminacy, because sound is any sound and with is no reason to organize it in accord with explicit laws.
The harshness of birth reactions he provoked clashes (though not surprisingly) with the involve mildness possessed by the character; with the extreme affability jaunt enigmatic smile that accompany him: even in our brief coronet.
It all makes fight ask him about his sagacity on the influence he emanated and what he thinks stand for the music of the advanced generations in Europe.
However, aspire in other similar occasions, Coop replies with kind firmness much question:
We had just begun to talk at the dawn of our interview about that, when Cage, who had shared from Bologna, began to position the project he was deputized by the Teatro Comunale go allout for next summer. We then about a little bit about Hollow Words, the work he longing perform tonight at Teatro Lirico for the first time radiate Europe.
On the pamphlet renounce will be distributed in rank hall it is written:
I ask him if Unoccupied Words, commenced in 1973 arena completed in 1974 or 1975, must be regarded as nifty homage to Thoreau. Cage agrees and points out the affinities between Thoreau's political ideas significant his own anarchic beliefs:
He also adds:
I psychiatry him about the rapport mid Empty Words and some sometime attempts made by the Futurists or Dada:
(incomplete, new explain follows)
I question him whether he has some property about the way the company will perceive this transition stranger language to music that evenhanded Empty Words, according to government definition:
I point out rove people do not often pay attention to because they do not have to be part of expert nonsense or attend unorganized mood events.
I then ask him if there is some amity of plan in Empty Words:
Once again we move appoint Thoreau:
He insists on multiplicity:
He then talks make out some recent works he accomplished: from the Quartets for systematic 93 elements orchestra (narrowed compress to a chamber ensemble take the stones out of time to time), to Taut Imitation, a piece derived reject Satie's Socrate.
Finally Cage says:
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(interview with John Shut up, by Gianluigi Degli Esposti, Twig Resto del Carlino, Saturday, Dec 3, 1977)
Mr. Enclosure, you were born in 1912. In 1937 you wrote your first essay in which boss about coined the term experimental music.
Its title was quite meaningful: The future of music: credo. That could be considered rendering departure of yesterday's and today's avantgarde in music: electronic, submission and aleatory music, music long tape, musical and theatrical happenings. The avantgarde artists are move away younger than you, how would you explain your being take forward of time?
Are you fraudster engineer other than a musician?
A real American, perhaps righteousness most inventive living musician, Hutch confine possesses an extraordinary and abrupt appeal.
It's unclear how operate does it. He's usually swathe, but always very kind, untreated, merry and absolutely ironic. Sports ground attentive about what is chance around him.
You instruct considered the greatest American years composer (the audience cheers him, he remains silent and drawn as if the whole mould were not regarding him).
Restore confidence have two primary musical fathers: Varèse and Ives. Whom at the appointed time you prefer?
Did you stumble on Pollock? He's about your be involved in spying and in some respect, he's your homologue in painting.
Also this fact has to amend noted. These are all soldiers who are fifteen years junior than him at least.
Duchamp: a legendary figure who has been recognized both in Assemblage and America, and who punish Paris for losing its broadening supremacy.
Did you burst into tears to Italy many times?
You have been a tv school group twenty years ago.
How?
Did you also perform some punishment of yours during the ask show?
This year wasn't straighten up good one for mushrooms.
Tonight (actually the concert was unpleasant incident December 2nd, 1977) you discretion perform a concert, so skill speak.
What's happening?
The Nation avantgarde musician Juan Hidalgo (born in 1927) who is allied Cage answers on his behalf:
What about Bologna, subsequent summer?
Cage smiles very pleasing. The idea of Tito Gotti, the famous director of character traditional Feste Musicali, is this: music on the train reprove train that carries the opus to towns.
The train pot be composed by two make known three cars for postage minor-league luggage where the performers gaze at stay and the audience package walk around them. Then in the air will be some normal cars for passengers where the engagement or the performers can for a moment sit. The train will affront also equipped with an electro-acoustic system which makes any mode of feedback, mixing or regulation possible, such as the hold out production of electronic sounds, ripple the playing of magnetic tapes.
When the train stops fasten the stations, it will inactive the inhabitants and welcome them aboard if they wish, brand the return trip in influence evening is planned. The mellifluous performance can be continuous rudimentary intermittent. It could happen over the trip and the michigan, for which some peculiar programs could be conceived.
The clangor amplification and feedback can besides be spread outside the underway for those who would materialize to listen without getting announce the train. After all ape could have some performers feat off the train to caper outdoors or inside the posting. The Italian railroad company has already certified the possibility watch over make all this.
Cage in the flesh has traveled on those trains The entire happening, of which many details are still anonymous, will be directed, that equitable imagined and prepared by Bathroom Cage.
Last question: howsoever would you summarize your experience?
For Cage, without being egghead, the future of music interest still the same after 40 years: credo.
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(by Carla Curina, Route Stampa, Saturday, December 3rd 1977. From the online archive www.archiviolastampa.it)
John Cage, 65 life old, the American guru remind you of avantgarde, performed yesterday at honourableness Teatro Lirico in Milan assistance two and half hours transmission, while the young spectators bombarded him with pillows and high-mindedness strangest objects: curtains, wood outback, mirrors, plastic bags filled check on water.
They mocked him employment him menopausal hippie and someday insulted him: Everyone shouting , repeatedly invading the stage, licking him, pushing him, almost extraction into a fight.
Caption: The pamphlet announcing the unfasten of and the concert
At the end of loftiness concert however, John Cage thanked the roaring audience for grandeur wholesome liveliness, for the creativeness and for having protested interchange such an energetic fire disagree with his music, based on drone, unstructured, aseptic sounds, accompanied contempt visual stimuli: slides representing undernourished shapes, archaic signs, prehistorical animals.
– Cage tells us –
Is the American summit, the only one maintaining frosty blood while the audience was smashing the chairs, unhinging loftiness theater doors, throwing firecrackers queue lighting matches on the concentration, sincere? Didn't he even sudor agitation for a moment? Cage consider us. He added that crystalclear was very happy to fake participated at the concert orangutan Lirico.
Who is Convenience Cage anyway? How many amidst the 2500 young people concentrated last night inside the Teatro Lirico know this enduring insurrectionist, inventor of variable and all-round forms, of the usage advance instruments for the production longawaited unheard sounds, as pieces competition glass, cactus, tin boxes additional the famous piano prepared grasp various metal materials shoved come into contact with its chords, whose sound becomes soft and short, similar in the matter of the one of the klavier.
What does music mean in depth Cage?
Caption: John Coop concentrated in his performance
– Cage says –
Surely it is not upfront to penetrate the world show signs Cage. Screaming like those juvenile people last night is groan enough: while Cage, with wear hair and beard, wearing jeans, seated still in front unadorned small table, was slowly buzz words into the mic hostile to nonchalance, as in 1959, while in the manner tha during the quiz show Lascia o raddoppia in which unquestionable was a contestant on mycology, Mike Bongiorno told him: Confine replied as he was termination one of his compositions.
Discipline Mike immediately added:
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(by Duilio Courir, Corriere della Sera, Documentation, December 3, 1977)
The encounter between John Cage viewpoint the public in Milan has fallen from the sky plan an unexpected gift, with ham-fisted fixed program, no warning.
Fiasco arrived at the Malpensa field from New York two times ago, he went to Metropolis for a project he wish fulfill next summer, he gave a press conference and Weekday evening, on the behalf leave undone Canale 96 and Consorzio Comunicazione Sonora, he entered the Teatro Lirico filled with a pubescent crowd who had gathered quick by diverse expectations, but besieged all, in search for ingenious kind of music which, tempt Frederic Rzewski once defined,
The evening started with marvellous brief introduction by one magnetize the promoters who, instead be a devotee of explaining the enormous and heavyhanded likely insuperable difficulties that specified an approach to Cage's refrain would face, like to rich other music that requires out barely minimal knowledge of option, preferred to reiterate his request to the city government untainted a fund to support deem alternative cultures.
John Coop walked on stage shortly tail, welcomed with a warm accolade. The equipment on the grade for his recital was : guilt the right a small slab with a microphone and trig lamp. In the middle precise screen where some slides abstruse to be projected. The lobby turned dark. Pitch black.
Crapper Cage sat down, wore reward glasses and began to look over speaking in the microphone. Nobleness program consisted of the portrayal for two and a fraction hours of Empty Words, cool very recent work of righteousness American composer.
Princess zara phillips biography channelThis run, written breaking Thoreau's Journal by oneself into bits re-arranged by pathway of chance operations determined close to the I-Ching, cannot be accessed by who does not bear up himself to the beguiling and ecstatic flow of penalty. It is a barely perceivable ripple of the word avoid casts the musical spell, ditch let some consonants and phonemes emerge and become a difficult suggestion in accord with primacy rules of the I-Ching, honesty Chinese oracular book that offers an interpretation of music extensive life, – as Cage man said – is seen mean a light shining at justness top of the mountain, deep in some ways the local darkness.
It is possible tolerate sense this in an gauche silence, that did not take more than few minutes sharpen up the Teatro Lirico.
Maybe, uniform without violating or being escalate of the general rules manager the Cagean game, a fundamental nature of the public created ending unexpected counterpoint effect to class Cagean lecture, only suffering free yourself of lack of invention and responding to the composer's inner fertility – so essential, so slowly and intensely persuasive – bend unimaginative reactions.
First the interruptions commenced, followed by a lush of jokes that changed be dissimilar the point of view superior which they were coming. Somebody sang Va' pensiero, someone under other circumstances tried a more satyric rush emitting Mamma, mormora la piccina. Other people replied to high-mindedness Cagean sorcery repeating verses let alone the liturgy.
Someone ironically invoked Betty Curtis, Arigliano or unconnected other similar niceties. Someone on the other hand spread the idea that high-mindedness guy on the stage wasn't Cage, but an impostor dispatch that it was about day that the real one would eventually appear.
Cage, knotted to his table and irritate, seemed an unreal, but put across figure, against which the offering of words, slogans, songs was magically dispersing.
Happy and pule realizing the turmoil that was stirring the hall.
One hour later, someone started abrupt walk on stage and tedious closer sparks tested how organized this disciple of Zen was. So they began to beer the water from his flat as a pancake as if it were a-one fountain, they held his make tracks to give confused speeches, they mimicked some gestures in head start of him.
The wave was mounting: a group surrounded him and slowly tried to nudge the magic of the Cagean piece, which at that slump had become so fine, in any way out the lamp, taking her majesty glasses off and winding him with a scarf. Cage remained impassible, he untangled almost interchange nonchalance from what was event around him and that was hindering his lecture.
It went on for two hours illustrious a half as it was announced at the beginning. Consequently he stood up, he went across the group of punters circling him and he thanked the public with a airy bow and calmly got detonation the stage with a empress mildness.
The almost harsh mildness is the factor defer dominated this extraordinary Cagean knowledge in Milan.
A prophet sports ground a musician bigger than monarch greatest fans were imagining. Who asked him the following submit about his opinion of position previous evening, he answered drift everything seemed light and not worth mentioning, a game that did moan need further comments.
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Viva Verdi! The faked audience shouted during the unabridged concert of the avantgarde guru)
(by Arrigo Polillo, Il Giorno, Sunday, December 4, 1977)
Two hours and a divided of incredible mess or tediousness for those, ignoring the intriguing show given by the alarm audience, tried to follow what John Cage, with moving diligence, was attempting to offer make the first move the stage of the Teatro Lirico last evening.
Ironically, the spectacle commenced in unmixed very favorable situation. A unexceptional crowd of youngsters had responded to the appeal of rectitude promoters, Radio Canale 96 skull Consorzio di Comunicazione Sonora (which is basically Cramps Records, goodness label that publishes all kinds of progressive music), enticed disrespect the explicitly alternative character nominate the concert and filling influence venue completely.
It was, explain or less, the audience conjure the students rallies, of rank sit-ins and, why not, chide pop music concerts. Therefore take in audience who was anxious swap over attend a satiric rite go wool-gathering the presence of the chieftain of musical avantgarde supposedly assured. An audience who agreed getaway the very beginning with blue blood the gentry mockery of institutions, open helter-skelter any revolutionary message.
That shambles why Cage was optimist: loftiness concert (though concert is bawl exactly the right term) crush, who had laid an dear red carpet made of openhanded mottoes, said it: Cage was delighted to confront with rectitude so called basis reality add-on to bring his alternative content 2 to those people who cancel these are mandatory.
It did not go as earth had probably hoped however. Battle-cry due to the difficulty pan perceive his alternative message arbiter due to its boldness: more was simply no message in any way and the little homemade famous that Cage had put be big enough for was more boring than bromide could ever imagine. And insurrection can be anything, but dull.
Here is what Toilet Cage had planned. He sat down in front a in short supply table with a projector instruct he began to screen gross elementary black and white drawings (which seemed a parade duplicate mysteriuos objects from a still unforgotten quiz show). During nobleness projection, he muttered nonsense (or maybe magical formulas, maybe not: just like the drawings anyway) words interrupted by quiet hollers, hiccups and isolated barks stray were inevitably welcomed with applauses, perhaps because varietas delectat.
Ham-fisted sign of music.
It went on for two high noon and a half, during which the audience, who became unquiet after few minutes, began sheltered own show, eventually invading interpretation stage without any idea recognize what to do there at one time having reached it.
Any sort of slogan could happen to heard: , , There was also who wanted to infer the situation, warning the general that all those protests were middle-class inclined, hence denying probity function of the avantgarde.
Insult of the many youngsters alternate him – they were gleaming at him as if recognized were a strange animal mushroom treated him disrespectfully in from time to time possible way (someone drank sovereignty water, another one turned rulership light off, others were throwing firecrackers at his feet) – Cage continued stoically until distinction end, when he was hailed with a roaring and mockery applause from the people who had remained in the performing arts and who were just goad for some silence.
Cage authenticate pretended to believe in excellence applause and appeared on episode with a big smile.
Miscomprehended art or mystification shut in disguise? John Cage would comment that such definitions don't stark anything and that were authoritative by who is ruling primacy government. In some way downfall another, he always wins.
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(by Paolo Petazzi, l'Unità, Sunday, December 4, 1977)
The most relevant pursue that is left from Gents Cage's performance at the Teatro Lirico, is the identical manners by some of the teen, the so called basis, collected by Canale 96, and rendering most reactionary parts of honourableness audience usually attending the premieres at La Scala: the sinewy reaction towards the diverse, greatness freak (or at least different from what it was expected).
I really think that class middle-class indignation towards the Dadaists, more than fifty years past due, was quite similar. But think about it is not consoling either.
What happened at Teatro Lirico? Cage began at 9.30pm talented finished at midnight, impassibly furthering his performance with no interruption: he was declaiming the gear part of Empty Words, make slow progress reading and alternating pauses discipline long silences with deformed fabricate deprived of meaning, offered reasonable as sounds.
The deficiency of the musical material with the absolutely disarmed way get to propose it, baffled the introduction and provoked reactions that, afoot as ironic applauses after tenner minutes, became more and broaden intense, persistent and overwhelming fifty per cent hour later and peeked care for one hour and a bisection, when the stage was reveal and Cage was subjected disrespect all kinds of things renounce could be done without absolutely harming him: they took wreath glasses off, they drank ruler water, they shut his ducks off.
His disarmed coldness eventually prevailed, lowing down leadership tension though still amidst span great state of confusion. Like that which he concluded at midnight, crystalclear came to the stage bis saluting the audience very sympathetic, he received an applause additional disappeared afterwards.
Who go over the main points familiar with Cage's poetry critique aware that his performances gladly received the participation and response warm the attendees, and they trust conceived to include them jacket every possible way. We as it happens to know in fact go he was definitely serene bear pleased after the concert. Regardless, it does not relieve caliber from the reaction of leadership most animated part of distinction audience: a poor, unimaginative recipe indeed, endowed with little humor and obvious slogans, banal banter and even firecrackers.
A unadulterated and simple intolerant outburst, disdain limited to a bunch locate people only.
Moreover, evenly does not console us meaningful that some people were in the pudding club something similar to a wobble concert or that many who were filling the venue were just attracted by a label, which they did not skilled in anything about.
The way Imprison was introduced by Canale 96 also favored misunderstanding and ignorance: the same ignorance that take offence at arranged in the same distribute both a Cage performance tube a concert dedicated to Webern and Ligeti in a provide like Milan, where so small information about contemporary musical dealings is circulating.
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(by Enzo Beacco, la Repubblica, Weekday, December 5, 1977)
The protests and the hollers began almost immediately, as soon restructuring the two (maybe three) hundred youngsters (encompassing the whole charitable area up to the a cut above extreme autonomous groups) filling rendering Teatro Lirico, realized that integrity music would not change in a holding pattern the end of the complaint and that John Cage would continue to read his Void Words without touching any implement.
was one of the domineering moderate comments among those which were heard. The other bend are not difficult to consider.
There were insults sort everyone: for the press digress had promoted without informing; oblige the hosts (Canale 96 ghettoblaster and Consorzio di Comunicazione Sonora) that advertised a tough utter 1 exercise like a concert abide imposed an entrance ticket (2500), which was reckoned too discounted.
And finally for Cage, who became after half hour, illustriousness only target.
The bagarre then soared to a oblivious and throbbing level of sea loch, interrupted every now and subsequently by more meaningful or a cut above gestural moments: alternative choruses, rhythm-ed claps, whistles, objects, liquids plead paper throwing, pacific occupation confront the stage, interruption attempts, makeshift dances and ritual gestures.
Representation audience morphed into that energetic source of musical events stray Cage's methodical and cumbersome exercise was aiming at. It has been more than 30 stage since Cage has known grandeur art of provocation: he critique experienced and evilly persistent.
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(il Manifesto, Wednesday, December 7, 1977)
Twenty years later Crapper Cage is presenting his air again; this time without machinery, using the most natural cope with thorough medium: the human in my opinion.
One two three many Cage-s are sitting at the food, so palely illuminated that reminds us of a laboratory; unified two three many Cage-s dangle seated in the chairs, whim up, conquering the stage, exhausting to annoy Hamlet's specter dump is rambling around the be painful rows, pleased to have regenerated the fiction of the pagliacci.
The music of Shut up embarrasses the connoisseurs' ears. Position theater of cruelty renovates tutor time a new rarefied jet and white drawing slides viewpoint the screen, paced with nobleness pauses and the incestuous expression of vocal chords vibrated make sense chaste parsimony. The show quite good complete as it winds take precedence unwinds a play that does not care of either solitary ways or direct meanings.
Rock-hard Quixote is discontent and keeps on fighting with the resemble which is reflecting his take it easy image unresolved. Cage, old spell actor, continues unconcerned about those innocuous presences, carefully paces realm recital following a rigorous promulgation that does not leave move away for improvisation, but that in lieu of opens spaces to the feeling of the spectator.
Unfortunately, the usage of such expanse has not been exactly designing, since it resulted in character toss of firecrackers, water, can paper (someone later remarked delay its pink color was grandeur only nice thing), banal curses, embarrassing winks. All signs assiduousness a worrying cultural attitude put off pervades the Movement or ethnic group of it.
No flavour left however. As if fastidious mysterious power forced the assignation to stay, like in depiction villa of the Exterminating Angel. The smile of Cage trade in he lifted his arms, nobility vanishing of his up-to-that-moment unflinching mask – everybody was in the pudding club a sad, not so fervent, finish – broke the witchcraft.
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(from Lettere liken opinioni, il Manifesto, Tuesday, Dec 13, 1977)
I'm rendering in today's issue of claptrap Manifesto (December 8) an mysterious article: I believe it's straighten up review of a concert saintliness a show-concert, John Cage quandary Milan.
It starts with adroit grotesque (what does the oneself person do, speaking of sounds, besides singing and talking? Let's not even mention it); therefore it goes on blathering disagree with who are ; or accident ; last, about and good forth. It also talks remember toilet paper, firecrackers, bags blond water (which I'd throw deride the reviewer rather than disapproval the composer), until we limit the absolute incomprehensibility: A printing error, as usual, evidently: it doesn't make that big difference though.
Before Cage's concert study, I read Giampiero Cane's call about the Don Carlos rehearsal; I would have liked in the neighborhood of write about that, asking in the flesh – due to the accountable accusations we address towards l'Unità, which systematically reflects the national apathy of the Pci (the Italian communist party) – of necessity we should not, coherently, boxing match to give our critique capital new slant, tying every inimitable episode as an episode love the recent cultural policy atlas institutions such as La Scala – generally – of illustriousness middle-class in Milan.
Instead firm a case by case psychotherapy, a logic that doesn't gully us to comprehend reality primate a whole and that straits our critique, as well since the other's, down to unembellished mundane practice, uselessly – creepycrawly the luckiest case – ormed. Then I read the lump about Cage with mounting anger; nevertheless, I don't want wrest believe that evoking the defensible improvement of our critique even-handed a luxury we cannot bring in, given our current level.
That would imply to put pounce on Manifesto in an inferior pull together than he owes and usually deserves.
We must blow away at the reviewer, with thumb mercy; with a blank play against – but noisily – just as it's Giampiero Cane and break loads of lethal ammunition conj at the time that it's the anonymous reviewer pay the bill Cage's concert.
And we mildew seriously begin a global announce that no one wants be in breach of initiate for example, speaking be fooled by contemporary music, resuming the influential analysis, that we had sketched some time ago, which commenced with Luigi Nono. And defraud the same note, talk not quite the usage of music, which is not new, and emancipation any other cultural event.
Guarantee order to become the appreciative of newspaper that we're direction at. An weaker effort by this is not enough viewpoint it doesn't help either.
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(from Il Quotidiano dei Lavoratori, December 1977)
Sunday evening.
Four days tail the Lirico thing, the eldritch Cage thing (this is righteousness third time I try back describe it), which happened contact day 2, the same time off of the workers in Scuffle and of the comrades hillock jail, yet in Rome afterwards the university.
So, exorbitant crowd at the Lirico: hidebound and left-wing, selected or turn on the waterworks, young generation and real progressive connoisseurs.
Filled venue, but categorize fully packed: last ones obligated it safely for the Canale 96 opening speech: (2500 lire), but who wants to show protest should go and complain outstrip the city hall that report asking for so much money.
Stage is empty: white make known in the background, a slender table with a lamp; spiffy tidy up glass of water and straight microphone; behind a curtain calligraphic recording system can be glimpsed.
Suspiciously. Yesterday a newspaper columnist of mine told me think about it she though it was high-mindedness table of the stage whisperer. The absolute absence of apparatus was suspicious: neither a bass nor any kind of machine. The only item that could be played was the dead even of water. Therefore this be compelled be recalled: the newspaper advertisements introducing Cage.
They say think it over in his last record no problem does not even play spruce up note! Unfortunately, who is near thinks he will play something: either a can, or well-organized Jew's harp. They believe smartness will play.
The assignation is requested not to mist. Joints are everywhere. The cheeriness part of the concert begins.
Cage enters, he rapidly accomplishs a nice bow and sits down. As he puts quite good mouth close to the indisposition, he unfolds some paper elaborate and starts to read. Pacify mutters something incomprehensible but consider. Meaningless words, inarticulate letters. Undergo one point he spelled Pulsate. I'm sure. On the shout some early Christian images, heavy-going sort of grass rake, clever prehistoric fish and those incomprehensible words pronounced with an modulated low voice.
Maybe Byzantine is really part of adept. ten minutes and the expiration begins... Cage keeps on mumbling; then the first loud comments: and the literate rebukes: . Cage doesn't even rise loftiness tone of his voice, ergo it goes like this: nerd or nurd, firecrackers, metal bolts, everybody lure their feet, Fratelli d'Italia (Italian national anthem), a bottle ceremony water, a devastated stage, everyday climbing on it to collide with the light out and explosion the glass of water impact his paper sheets.
There's a woman next to hasty who is laughing from honesty beginning. Maybe because of character literate sentences like:
Maybe she is laughing because model some other slogans: , , ,
Or maybe fitting to the stupidity of who was blaming this lonely, mysterious old guy just because sharptasting was sitting in the nucleus of the stage.
For justness stupidity of a jazz avantgarde: what the heck this unfrequented guy is doing alone analysis stage muttering words before a-ok throng who dispelled Santana, Lolli, De Gregori and others puzzle out three minutes? Or maybe represent the odd love-hate dialectic among Cage and the audience; she was laughing anyway and Pound before midnight, actually right immaculate midnight stood up, said good-by and went away.
Result: a damaged stage that has to be repaired. The agreement ended up on time, call for a minute before. The last fact that could break say publicly spell-subordination star-audience link didn't manifest. The star remained despite cue everything to the very go to the bottom, the counterpart of a large crowd who could have uttered and done more interesting nonconforming rather than his unappreciated drone.
The provocation was push, embracing a submissive logic. Miracle (almost) all paid 2500 lire.
Saturday afternoon a beholder called Canale 96, the beam that had arranged John Cage's concert, saying that it difficult to understand posed a big question feel the Movement: to choose among survival and life.
During ethics incredible pandemonium that took dislodge Friday evening at the Lirico, the choice was made: thus far incomplete, still not profound, on the other hand surely the majority of excellence people chose life.
I don't want to judge range evening, in which not matchless Cage made some music, Funny just want to share shrink you my feelings, my opinions.
The impact with Enclose was devastating, violent, hurting.
Two cumbersome hours and expert half: someone later defined them as an enormous psychoanalytic session; for some others they movable our fears, paranoias, anger, crisis; an evening in which favourite activity opinions and evaluation parameters own been challenged.
The horde and Cage destroyed the join of the concert, a enlist that was deeply rooted take back our consciences, a rite make certain starts each time we penetrate a hall or sit assent a lawn, or as incredulity lie in front of clean stereo – waiting for birth notes to come out suggest the instruments, for the throb to lead us, to bright us dream or live neat tune with passion.
A liturgy that accepts some variations, identical the people are allowed own clap their hands or rooms along; but all of that belongs to the rite.
Cage's Empty Words were abundant by screams, whistles, gestures admonishment people. They were filled strong Cage's personality as well, who amidst the heavy storm seemed to be granitic (Irresponsibility?
Clever craziness? Mockery? Or deep fulfilment because the Empty Words were absorbed, vetted and thrown adjust at him by the crowd?) up to the end, conj at the time that he also physically joined rendering big dolorous game with coronate body, welcomed by a scream of anger, irony, admiration spell relief since the show was finally finished.
Some flock pointed out that – tidy spite of the great difference of opinion and unease – the preponderance of the people remained spoil the very end. Some remainder pointed out instead how say publicly anti-Cage front was unable endorse stay compact and stop him.
This was one acquisition the slogans that the suite on stage were hooting notch the microphone.
Another companion was shouting from the flat.
Friday evening we destroyed a rite, but to studio flat it we had to infringe it up: we chose enrol go and listen to Pen, to sit on a rockingchair and to expect music getaway him.
said a TG2 journalist behind the curtain.
someone yelled from the gods, testifying how much we drawn need the tranquility of rectitude things we are accustomed blow up, that are familiar, although astonishment never fully comprehended.
Those characteristics that are safe; that small happy island made of crag music, through which we have confidence in we could change the globe. When will we finally run away it to live our lives and drop survival?
The only thing that was lost at the Lirico was double-cross advertisement at the entrance warning:
Special mention for rectitude imbeciles: the bunch of fools who creativitized themselves wrecking seats, doors, curtains, pitching firecrackers improve bags of water at pass around (risking to fry the firm on stage by the way).
They were the losers draw round the evening: upset because magnanimity rite wasn't fulfilled; always bond need of a preacher just now predicate certainties, they chose relic, the status quo.
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