Sonata V from Sonatas and Interludes
Composer
Genre
Context/Influences
John Cage (1912-1992)
Collection of prepared piano (grand with nuts, bolts, rubber, etc. inserted on the
strings) short pieces.
Minimalist, Avant-Garde, Experimental.
Indian philosophy (specifically the eight permanent emotions of Rasa leading to
tranquility: humor, wonder, erotic, heroic, anger, fear, disgust, and sorrow), the
Javanese gamelan orchestra of pitched and non-pitched percussion
Unifying features
New, unique timbres; rhythm (including “silence”); ostinato passage; contrasting
length of “melody”; unusual phrase structure; tension, suspension, and surprise.
Compositional Style
Overall: through composed. Each sonatas time proportions were chosen at
random except the last four pieces (sonatas XIII through XVI). Nested
proportions mean the piece is unified on a small and large scale.
Sonata V: in additive measure; A section: 4 + 5 + 4 + 5 = 18 bars. B section 4 + 5
+ 4 + 5 + 4.5 = 22.5 bars.
conjunct, dissonant, floating, mostly unpitched
Percussive
atonal - though in Sonata V the high C is a reoccurring, sustained note.
Strict. Comprised of steady eighth notes in the left with varying values in the
right (short to long). Piece is broken into listening to the written music and
listening to the rests (ie. listening to the sounds that occupy silence).
Melody
Harmony
Tonality
Rhythm
Form
Overall form: 16 sonatas broken into groups of four by interludes.
Sonata V is binary: A-A-B-B
Texture
Overall: Diverse. Each Sonata has a different feel and different selection of
timbres.
Sonata V: Thin; two notes at a time (homophonic). Dry percussive sound and
silence instills feeling of tranquility
Timbre
Bell like sounds reminiscent of oriental gamelan percussion. Wide variety,
ranging from standard piano sounds to harmonics, thuds, buzzes, muffled notes,
and more. The more preparations on a string, the more it sounds like a percussion
instrument.
Expression/Dynamics Since the insertions muffle the strings, the entire work is quieter as a whole.
Rather than having grandiose, loud pieces, the work is based on tranquil,
understated dynamics and expressions.