John Cage - Song Books

John Cage's Song Books were published in 1970, they are a collection of solos in which Cage mixes notations, varying from the traditional to completely abstract, some works consist of instructions for actions rather then conventional notation. In the work, Cage is challenging the very idea of what a work of art constitutes. Having read Kay Larsson's book about Cage and Zen, I have come to a better understanding how Cage was attempting to remove himself from the artistic process. Quite a challenging idea for a composer.

Anyway, on 20 October at Toynbee Studios, 28 Commercial Street, E1 6AB you can experience the Song Books for yourself, performed by ex-Scratch Orchestra members alongside a younger generation of performers and composers. Further information from the New Work Network website.