Three Dances

Composed in 1944. Returned to and revised in 1945. Premiered in New York, January 21, 1945.

20 minutes

This work was originally used as music for the choreographed piece by Merce Cunningham, "Dromenon," with stage design by Sonja Sekula. The rhythmic structure of these dances is 2, 5, 2 - 2, 6, 2 - 2, 7, 2 when the tempo is 88; the proportions change when the tempo changes, in order not to maintain the overall structural proportions. This is a virtuoso piece, with a climax in the stormy third dance where open keyboard sounds are mixed with lively prepared piano effects. The preparations are quite elaborate, involving around 36 notes on each piano, and with a wide variety of materials including screws, pennies, rubber, plastic, weather stripping, and various bolts and nuts. The piece was commissioned by the piano duo Arthur Gold and Robert Fizdale.

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100 Best 20th Century Classics

Various performers. Cage performed by Ralph Grierson and Michael Tilson Thomas, prepared pianos

EMI