Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music: Adam Johnson plays the music of John Cage @ the Lit & Phil - Sept. 30

(© Ken Drew)

Adam Johnson (prepared piano)

I guess most people have heard of John Cage, but relatively few have heard his music, and even fewer seen and heard a live performance of his work.  Such a performance was held at the Lit & Phil as part of the Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music. After an enthusiastic introduction, James Smith, revealed that one of his goals in life was to see a live performance of Cage’s music for prepared piano.

The first piece titled 4'33 (in three movements) lasted exactly 4 minutes and 33 seconds and was greeted with much applause and a little mirth for the player staring unwaveringly at the blank music in front of him. A perfect rendition, although Johnson himself did quip that maybe anyone in the audience could actually perform it.

(© Ken Drew)

Moving on to a significantly major piece,  Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano, was for me a stunning revelation of a scored piece played on a prepared piano, rather than improvised. Written in New York between 1946-48 (some 20+ years before the availability of synthesisers) to create a percussion ensemble for a dance group. The piano preparation takes around 2 hours, and follows meticulous instructions and measurements as to where the items of rubber, felt, screws and bolts are to be placed.  Their absolute position is determined by ear to ensure the tonalities are ‘in tune’ across the prepared range, producing a similar sound to a Gamelan orchestra. 

(© Ken Drew)

And so the main piece, Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (selection), which lasted some 45 minutes, was performed as meticulously as the preparation. Johnson is an accomplished musician, and read the complex-looking score perfectly. For the first few minutes the appearance of gamelan drums emerging from the upper keyboard register (and some from lower down) seemed startling but quickly the sounds settled as intended – an orchestral piece with polyphony in its sonic ranges and in its rhythms too.  Overall this was absolutely thrilling to see and hear this work performed.  Bravo! to Johnson, and to the organisers for bringing him to Newcastle to perform.

After the performance Johnson invited interested members of the audience to look at (but not to touch!)  the modifications within and across the piano strings, and to ask any questions.  There were many! Ken Drew

 

This concert was presented by Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music in association with Jazz at the Literary and Philosophical Society and Jazz North East.