Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 11/18/1993
This collection features works by various luminaries in the international
avant-garde performing works by or in memoriam of the iconoclastic composer
John Cage. Performances range from
David Tudor's
electronic explorations to
Patrick Moraz's performance of
Cage's
"Dances for Prepared Piano." The irony will not be lost on fans of
Cage's work that a recorded tribute album for a composer who disliked the recorded medium is at best a strange tribute. But that said, considering the uniqueness of the collection -- and indeed the clout of the listed performers -- even the most orthodox of
Cage disciples will be pleased with this recording. Each disc of this two-disc set is split up into nearly 100 tracks, making either a special treat or grand annoyance for those with the shuffle-play feature on their CD players.
Laurie Anderson is featured reading texts by
Cage over her own compositions on several tracks, and these add a fair amount of unity to this sprawling collection. The final work on this recording is entitled
"New York City" and is an
ambient recording of the environment outside
Cage's apartment.
~Mark W. B. Allender, All Music Guide
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