A2 Music – Instrumental Music Lesson 8
Name ____________________
By the end of the lesson you will be able to recall information about
John Cage.
In addition to this you will also develop your ability to recall information
on features of works you have already studied.
Starter activity
Read the sentences below, and after each one, name the piece it is
referring to and identify the place in the piece it is relevant to
1) The first 8 bars are repeated at the end, after a 6 bar middle section.
2) The refrain has a structure called ‘rounded binary form’
3) Piano and banjo accompany with detached in a style known as
‘comping’
4) There are two elements which characterise this – counterpoint and
syncopation
5) The texture is that of melody-dominated homophony which is typical of
this period.
Sonatas and Interludes – Sonatas I-III – John Cage
In groups as below, take the questions for your group and find the answers.
Once you have done this, produce a short paragraph (or poem/verse of a
song if you are feeling creative!) which covers all the points you have been
asked to answer. You need to be able to distribute your ‘creation’ to the others
in the class
Jamie, Natalie, Louise
1) The concept of prepared piano originated through an acquaintance
with Syvilla Fort. How?
2) What is John Cage referring to when he uses the term ‘micro –
macrocosmic’ ?
3) What proportion of the notes are prepared for this piece? Where are
these mostly?
4) Who was Henry Cowell?
Will, Dominic, Alicia
1)
2)
3)
4)
How many sonatas make up the complete work?
Prove that Sonata I is based on units of 28.
What is Sonata II based on?
How is Coomaraswamy linked to John Cage?
Emma, Rebecca, James
1) What is the texture in the openings of each sonata?
2) Who did Cage study with in the 1930’s?
3) There are 3 types of preparation of the strings – one being those
without mute. Can you categorise the other two?
4) What makes these pieces sonatas? – What doesn’t?
Sandra, Kate, Dave
1)
2)
3)
4)
How does Cage use duration to structure his music?
What is una corda?
Is this piece similar to an Indian raga or gamelan?
What did ‘imaginary landscape No2 ‘ consist of?
Homework –
Complete the grid on the following page – only complete the 4 boxes
indicated. It is vital that you refer to musical examples whilst you complete
this.
In addition to this, answer the following question – using all the information
everyone has collated today. It is up to you whether you use prose or bullet
points.
‘ John Cage is a C20th composer who has been influenced in many ways.
His work shows that this is the case. Discuss’ (20 marks)
Name _______________________________
Name of Piece _ _____CAGE_________________________________
AS Anthology work. DEFINITIONS
Use the grid below to help you identify key features of the piece. Make sure you take note of what belongs in which category. Try
and provide an example with every point you make.
Melody instruments, doubled melody? Octaves?
3rds? Unison? Regular phrases? Tessitura?
Conjunct? Disjunct? Diatonic? Chromatic? Rising?
Falling?
Rhythm dotted notes? Triplets? Swung quavers?
Syncopation? Hemiola? Anacrusis? Metre?
(strong beats of the bar)Repeated patterns?
Harmony Use of chords? Chord Progressions?
Circle of 5ths? 12 Bar Blues? Important patterns at
cadences? Diatonic or chromatic? Functional (I and
V & Cadences)? Harmonic rhythm? Does it stay the
same?
Texture Monophonic? Polyphonic? Homophonic?
Antiphonal? Heterophonic? Pedal?
Countermelody? Exchanging ideas in parts?
(DIALOGUE)
Tonality & Forces Major.Minor, Modal, Atonal, Who
has the melody? Is it doubled? Is it distributed?
What do others do? Who plays the bass? Mutes,
Pizzicato and timbre of instruments? Idiomatic
writing?
Do not complete this one
Structure is it varied? Repeated? Contrasted?
Ternary?
Do not complete this one