Cage: Bacchanale (arr. for 2 prepared guitars)
This item is made to order and typically ships within 1-2 weeks.
- Composer: John Cage (1912-1992)
- Arranger: Aaron Larget-Caplan
- Format: Performance Score
- Instrumentation (this edition): Guitar I, Guitar II
- Originally for: Prepared Piano
- Work: B
- ISMN:
- Pages: 12
Description
Bacchanale , John Cage's first work to exploit his influential "prepared piano" technique, arose from a request for musical accompaniment by dancer Syvilla Fort. Intending to write her a percussion piece, Cage discovered that the theater in which the premiere was to take place was too small to accommodate any instruments beyond the piano already present, and instead adapted the piano into a palette of percussive sounds by placing small foreign objects among the strings.
A new arrangement by guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan translates this six-minute work from the prepared piano to an even more novel instrumentation: a duo of prepared guitars, the sound of their vibrating strings transformed by the addition of alligator clips, washers, and slips of paper. This performing score (EP 6784a) includes detailed, illustrated instructions from the arranger on how to prepare the instruments.
The original version of Bacchanale is now available for sale in John Cage's Prepared Piano Music 1940-47 - Volume 1 (EP 67886a). Along with fellow guitarist Adam Levin, Aaron Larget-Caplan gave the world premiere of this arrangement in December 2018 at Arlington Street Church in Boston.
Publishers use a lot of words to describe what they sell, and we know it can be confusing. We've tried to be as clear as possible to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Below are descriptions of the terms that we use to describe the various formats that music often comes in.
Choral Score
A score for vocalists that only contains the vocal lines. The instrumental parts are not there for reference. Generally, cheaper than a vocal score and requires multiple copies for purchase.
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For ensemble music, this indicates that the edition contains all parts on a single system (there are not separate parts for each player). In larger ensembles, this is for the conductor.
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Hardbound. Generally either linen-covered or half-leather.
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Paperback
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Performance / Playing Score
A score of the music containing all parts on one system, intended for players to share. There are not separate parts for each player.
Set of Parts
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Solo Part with Piano Reduction
For solo pieces with orchestra, this is a version that contains a piano reduction of the orchestra parts. For piano pieces, two copies are typically needed for performance.
Study Score
A small (think choral size) copy of the complete score meant for studying, and not playing. They make great add-ons when learning concertos and small chamber works.
Vocal Score
A score prepared for vocalists that includes the piano/organ part or a reduction of the instrumental parts.
Wind Set
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Some publishers prepare two copies - a pure Urtext edition that includes no fingering (or bowing) suggestions and a lightly edited version that includes a minimal number of editorial markings.
Cage: Bacchanale (arr. for 2 prepared guitars)
