Composer

:

John Cage

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1980

Average_duration

:

25:49

Litany for the Whale is a composition by John Cage, an American composer, philosopher, and writer. The piece was composed in 1980 and premiered on May 16, 1980, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. The composition is a tribute to the endangered whales and their plight due to human activities. The piece is divided into four movements, each with its own unique characteristics. The first movement is titled "The Unnamable" and is characterized by a series of vocalizations and percussive sounds. The second movement, "The Nameless," features a solo voice reciting a litany of whale names, while the other performers create a soundscape of whale songs and ocean sounds. The third movement, "The Unquiet Grave," is a setting of a traditional English folk song. The performers sing the lyrics while playing various instruments, including a conch shell, a bullroarer, and a water gong. The final movement, "The Unknown," is a meditation on the unknown fate of the whales. The performers create a soundscape of silence, punctuated by occasional vocalizations and percussive sounds. The composition is characterized by Cage's use of chance operations and indeterminacy. The performers are given a set of instructions, but the specific sounds they create are left up to chance. This creates a sense of unpredictability and spontaneity in the performance, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the ocean and the whales themselves. Overall, Litany for the Whale is a powerful and moving tribute to the beauty and fragility of the natural world. Cage's use of chance operations and indeterminacy creates a sense of unpredictability and spontaneity, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the ocean and the whales themselves. The piece is a reminder of the importance of protecting our planet and the creatures that inhabit it.

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