Composer

:

John Cage

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1970

Average_duration

:

11:41

'36 Mesostics re and not re Marcel Duchamp' is a musical composition by John Cage, composed in 1976. The piece was premiered on January 16, 1977, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City. The composition consists of 36 mesostics, which are a type of poem where a vertical phrase is formed by the first letter of each line. In this case, the mesostics are based on the name of the artist Marcel Duchamp. Each mesostic is accompanied by a musical score, which is performed by a soloist or ensemble. The movements of the composition are not clearly defined, as each mesostic is performed independently. However, the piece is typically performed in its entirety, with each mesostic and its accompanying score played in sequence. The characteristics of '36 Mesostics re and not re Marcel Duchamp' reflect Cage's interest in chance operations and indeterminacy. The musical scores are based on a system of chance operations, where the performer is given a set of instructions but has some degree of freedom in how they interpret and perform the score. This creates a unique performance each time the piece is played. Additionally, the mesostics themselves are based on chance operations, as Cage used a computer program to generate the phrases that form the vertical lines of each poem. This further emphasizes the role of chance and indeterminacy in the composition. Overall, '36 Mesostics re and not re Marcel Duchamp' is a unique and experimental work that reflects Cage's interest in chance operations and indeterminacy. Its use of mesostics and accompanying musical scores creates a dynamic and ever-changing performance that is both challenging and engaging for performers and audiences alike.

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