An Introduction to America’s Music

394 PART 4 | SINCE WORLD WAR II

Listening Guide 16.1

Sonata no. 2

JOHN CAGE

CD 3.7

timing section duration

0:00 A a 12 beats.

0:05 b 19 beats.

0:15 c 6 beats.

0:18 d 9½ beats.

0:23 A Literal repeat; 46½ beats.

0:46 B e 12 beats.

0:51 f 19 beats.

1:01 g 12 beats.

1:06 h 19 beats.

1:16 i 4½ beats.

1:19 j 7 beats.

1:23 B Literal repeat; 73½ beats.

note The opening notes of the sonata establish the half-beat unit of measurement.

date: 1946–48

performer: Philipp Vandré, prepared piano

genre: modernist piano piece

meter: primarily duple

form: AABB

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

• varied tone colors of prepared piano


• use of rhythm and timbre, instead of
  melody and harmony, to create musical
  structure


• simple binary form combined with more
  complex square root form


• use of silence to articulate formal
  divisions

Listen & Refl ect

1. Play this recording for friends who are not familiar with Cage’s prepared pianos and ask
   them to identify the instrument(s) they hear. What are their responses, and what do those
   responses suggest about Cage’s aesthetic goals in writing for prepared piano?

172028_16_386-411_r3_sd.indd 394 23/01/13 10:56 AM