Composer

:

John Cage

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Open Form

Compose Date

:

1941

Average_duration

:

11:00

John Cage's "Third Construction" is a percussion quartet composed in 1941. It premiered on May 15, 1941, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The piece is divided into three movements, each with its own unique characteristics. The first movement begins with a solo on the lion's roar, a percussion instrument that produces a deep, roaring sound. This is followed by a section featuring the quijada, a percussion instrument made from the jawbone of a donkey. The players use a stick to strike the teeth of the quijada, producing a rattling sound. The movement also features the use of tin cans, cowbells, and other percussion instruments. The second movement is characterized by the use of bamboo wind chimes, which produce a delicate, tinkling sound. The players also use a variety of drums, including bongos and congas, to create a rhythmic foundation for the chimes. The third movement features the use of a large bass drum, which is played with mallets and produces a deep, resonant sound. The players also use a variety of other percussion instruments, including maracas, claves, and wood blocks. Overall, "Third Construction" is characterized by its use of unconventional percussion instruments and its emphasis on rhythm and texture over melody. The piece is also notable for its use of chance operations, a technique that Cage pioneered in which certain elements of the composition are left to chance or determined by the performers. This gives the piece a sense of spontaneity and unpredictability, as each performance will be slightly different.

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