Composer

:

John Cage

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Character Piece

Compose Date

:

1952

Average_duration

:

2:22

Movement_count

:

7

Movement ....

Seven Haiku is a musical composition by John Cage, an American composer, philosopher, and writer. The piece was composed in 1952 and premiered on May 16, 1952, at the Black Mountain College in North Carolina. The composition is a set of seven short pieces, each inspired by a haiku poem. The seven movements of Seven Haiku are titled after the haiku poems that inspired them. The first movement, "The light of a candle," is a slow and meditative piece that features a single note played on the piano, followed by a long silence. The second movement, "In the cicada's cry," is a lively and rhythmic piece that features a series of short, staccato notes played on the piano. The third movement, "The sea darkens," is a haunting and atmospheric piece that features a series of low, rumbling sounds played on the piano. The fourth movement, "Winter solitude," is a sparse and introspective piece that features a single note played on the piano, followed by a long silence. The fifth movement, "The first snow," is a delicate and ethereal piece that features a series of high, tinkling sounds played on the piano. The sixth movement, "Quietly I take my leave," is a slow and mournful piece that features a series of low, mournful sounds played on the piano. The final movement, "Above the mountains," is a bright and joyful piece that features a series of high, sparkling sounds played on the piano. The movements of Seven Haiku are characterized by their simplicity, their use of silence, and their focus on the individual sounds of the piano. Overall, Seven Haiku is a beautiful and contemplative composition that showcases John Cage's unique approach to music. By drawing inspiration from haiku poetry and focusing on the individual sounds of the piano, Cage creates a series of pieces that are both meditative and expressive.

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