Josh Baker
John Cage, Variations III performed by Josh Baker, bicycle wheel; Lou Bunk – acoustic paraphenalia; David Grollman – snare, percussion; Brendan Landis – guitar; Lou Cohen – laptop; Jake Meginsky – tympani; Steve Norton – reeds, percussion; Walter Wright – electronics.
Variations III
for one or any number of people performing any actions
1963
Two transparent sheets of plastic, one having forty-two undifferentiated circles, the other blank. Cut the sheet in such a way that there are forty-two small sheets, each having a complete circle. Let these fall on a sheet of 8 1/2 by 11. If a circle does not overlap at least one other circle, remove it. Remove also any smaller groups of circles that are separated from the largest group, so that a single maze of circles remains, no one of them isolated from at least one other. Place a blank sheet over this complex.
Starting with any circle, observe the number of circles which overlap it. Make an action or actions having the corresponding number of interpenetrating variables (1 + n). This done, move on to any one of the overlapping circles, again observing the number of interpenetrations, and so on.
Some or all of one’s obligation may be performed through ambient circumstances (environmental changes) by simply noticing them or responding to them.
Though no means are given for measurement of time or space (beginning, ending or questions of continuity) or the specific interpretation of the circles, such measurement and determination means are not necessarily excluded from the “interpenetrating variables.”
Some factors though not all of a given interpretation or succession of several may be planned in advance. But leave room for unforeseen eventualities.
Any other activities are going on at the same time.
- John Cage
My group of circles, numbered 1 – 16 from top to bottom. I added lines from circle center to circle center. Notes the lines branch at circles 6 and 9 in order to remain consistent with overall structure of the group. My intention was to derive my score by following the lines 1 – 8, 6 to 9 – 13, and 9 to 14 – 16.
The theme for our 30 minute performance was “More silence than sound.” I shaded areas where 2 circles overlapped. Following the lines, as above, I broke the 30 minutes into periods of silence, no shading, and sound, shading. The slope of the lines during the periods of sound determined the settings for the Boardweevil.
Here is my score -
min:sec action osc1 osc2 osc3
00:00 silent
04:00 sound 10 10 0
05:00 silent
06:00 sound 10 4 1
07:00 silent
11:00 sound 10 1 4
12:00 silent
13:00 sound 7 0 10
16:00 silent
16:30 sound 0 7 10
18:00 silent
18:30 sound 1 10 10
19:30 silent
21:30 sound 4 10 10
23:30 silent
24:00 sound 10 10 7
26:00 silent
30:00
Tags: Sound files
