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Tonight: Cage match pairs movement with strange piano sounds at Gallery 345

By John Terauds on March 22, 2012

Among the wide range of concerts celebrating the birth centenary of American composer John Cage, French pianist Daniel Gaspard and Cape Breton-born modern dancer Ellen Furey team up to present seven Cage sonatas for prepared piano tonight at 8, at Gallery 345 (345 Sorauren Ave.) in Parkdale.

It can take a long time to “prepare” a piano for these pieces, which were premiered in 1948. The strings get fitted with clips and screws and bolts that change their timbres and harmonics.

Movement is a natural adjunct to these pieces. In fact, Cage wrote his first pieces for prepared piano in the 1930s to accompany modern dance. Cage naming these pieces sonatas reflects the elaborate structure (one that defies quick description) that holds the spontaneous-sounding music together.

Gaspard and Furey have incorporated the preparation process into their show, a fascinating experience in and of itself.

For more details, and information about the tickets (only $20, half that for students and seniors), click here.

Here is a little video log the duo made last fall of their collaborative process:

Here is a bit more on Cage’s sonatas, as performed by Boris Berman: The first video contains a view of the preparation instructions as well as the score for the first four Sonatas and the first Interlude. The second video contains one of my favourites, Sonata XIII.

John Terauds

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