Unrecorded John Cage Works
To my knowledge, these works have never been recorded. I have included a brief note as to why I
think they have not been recorded; if it seems very surprising to me I’ll say
so. also listed those works which might
not be conducive to recording because they rely on visual presentations or are
specific to a time and place. I hope
this list might guide some future recording efforts!
Unrecorded manuscripts:
Published:
Adaptation of ‘Ixiom’ (1958, after Feldman)
A simple
adaptation for two pianos or orchestras.
Not really a Cage work.
Music for “The Marrying Maiden,” for magnetic tape (1960)
This is an indeterminate composition, but specifically for tape. The original tape might be lost.
Music for Carillon No. 4, for percussion and electronics (1961)
A complete
version of this work with the percussion part has never been recorded. The rest of the Music for Carillon series
could use a new recording as well.
Score (40 Drawings by Thoreau) and 23 parts (1974)
This is not too dissimilar from Renga, so I’m surprised it has not been recorded.
Quartets I, V and VI, for concert band and voices (1977)
This is just a subset of Quartets I-VIII, but for a different set of instruments.
A Collection of Rocks, for chorus and orchestra (1984)
This music is for spatially separated groups and might not come across well in a recording.
Selkus2, for voice (1984)
Thirteen mesostics, probably a lot like Mirakus. I’m surprised it has not been recorded!
Europeras 1 and 2, operas (1985-1987)
These operas are the most extensive and difficult to present of Cage’s operas.
Wishing Well, for voice (1986)
Apparently this is a recording, not strictly a manuscript. It’s unlikely it will be recorded if there is no real score.
Essay, for magnetic tape (1987, 1988)
This is a score for superimposing readings of eighteen mesostics.
One9, for sho (1991)
An extremely long performance for sho. This is a part of Two3, which has been recorded.
Eighty, for orchestra (1992)
It’s pretty long and requires a lot of musicians...but then, so does 103 and it has been recorded.
Unpublished:
Piano Etudes (1931 or 1932, private collection?)
First Chapter of Ecclesiastes, for piano (1932, NY Public Library)
Greek Ode, for voice and piano (1932, NY Public Library)
Haiku, for unspecified instruments (1958, NY Public library)
Collage of some “Studies for Player Piano” (1964, after Nancarrow)
Adaptation of some “Studies for Player Piano” (1969, after Nancarrow, with Mumma and Tudor)
Untiled work for Antoinette Vischer, for harpsichord (before 1969, Switzerland)
Untitled work for Joao Miró, for piano (1970, private collection)
Improvisation A+B, for ensemble and voice (1986, NY Public Library)
Works recorded only with simultaneous performance of other works:
31'57.9864" for a Pianist (1954)
34'46.776" for a Pianist (1954)
Speech 1955, for voice (1955)
Solo for Voice 1 (1958)
Renga, for orchestra (1975)
Truckera, for magnetic tape (1987)
108, for orchestra (1991)
Works recorded, but not commercially available (or not released yet):
Music for Carillon No. 5, for carillon (1965)
Cheap Imitation, for orchestra (1972)
Alphabet (1982)
HMCIEX, for magnetic tape (1984)
Twenty-Eight, for flute, clarinet, oboe and contrabassoon (1991, pending release)
Three, for recorder (1989, pending release)
Five Hanau Silence, a recording of sounds (1991, pending release)
Events, indeterminate performances, and other works not conducive to recording:
Black Mountain Piece, a multimedia event (1952)
Water Walk, a television performance (1959)
Theatre Piece, a performance of indeterminate actions (1960)
WBAI, instructions for a radio broadcast (1960)
Variations V, an audiovisial performance (1965)
Variations VI, instructions for a sound system (1966)
Variations VII, instructions for a sound system (1967)
Music for “Museum Event No. 2, an event (1967)
Newport Mix, for audience-provided tape loops (1967)
Musicircus, an event (1967)
Assemblage, a collaborative performance (1968, with Mumma
and Tudor)
33 1/3, for recordings operated by the public (1969)
Wewantemoosicday, a multimedia event (1969)
Sound Anonymously Received, for a performer and an
unfamiliar instrument (1969)
Dialog/Dialogue, instructions for performance of actions
(1970 or 1977)
Demonstration of the Sounds of the Environment, an event
(1971)
Les chants de Maldoror pulvérises par l'assistance même, a
text for a group of performers (1971)
WGBH-TV, instructions for a television broadcast (1971)
First Week of June (1970)
52/3, for piano and electronics? (1972, with Mumma and
Tudor)
Exercise, a rehearsal of Etcetera (1973 and 1984)
Address, for recordings operated by the public (1977)
Cassette, for several recordings (1977)
Sounday, a radio broadcast
Variations VIII, a performance (1978)
Concerto Grosso, for televisions and radios operated by the
public (1979)
Paragraphs of Fresh Air, instructions for a radio broadcast
(1979)
Silent Enviroment, an event (1979)
Improvisation III, for several recordings (1980)
Evéne/Environne METZment, for an audience (1981)
A house full of music, a simultaneous performance of
music-school pupils (1982)
Fifteen Domestic Minutes, instructions for a radio broadcast
(1982)
Instances of Silence, for various recordings (1982)
Musicircus for Children, an event (1984)
Rocks, for electronics (1986)
One3, for feedback that isn’t quite there!?!? (1989)
Scottish Circus, for scottish folk band and silence (1990)
Mozart Mix, for various recordings (1991)
Muoyce II, instructrions and text for performance (1992)
Lost, claimed, and unfinished works:
Allemande, for clarinet (1934, lost)
Duet for Two Flutes (1934, lost)
Music for Xenia, for piano (1934, lost)
String Quartet (1936, lost)
Music for an aquatic ballet, for percussion (1938,
unconfirmed)
25 Ballets in 1 act for solo dancer (1939, lost)
Ho to AA, for voice and piano (1939, lost)
America was promises, for voice and piano (1940, lost)
Dance Music: for Elfrid Ide, for 6 percussionists (1940,
unconfirmed)
Four songs of the moment, for piano (1940, lost)
Imaginary Landscape No. 2, for record players, piano and
percussion (1940, withdrawn)
Spiritual, for piano (1940, lost)
Dance, for piano (1942, lost)
Opening dance (1942, unconfirmed)
Shimmera, for prepared piano (1942, lost)
Lidice, for prepared piano (1943, lost)
The Feast, for piano (1945, lost)
Thin Cry, for piano (1945, lost)
Encounter, for piano (1946, unfinished)
Foreboding, for piano (1946, lost)
Orestes, for piano (1948, lost)
Magnetic tape work (1952, unfinished)
Vocal work (1952, unfinished)
Music for Westbeth (1974, lost)
R/13 (1983, unconfirmed)
Voiceless Essay, for magnetic tape (1985/86)
Vis-à-vis (1986, unconfirmed, with Takemitsu)
One13, for cello (1992, unfinished)
Otte, for violin (1992, unconfirmed, probably spurious)
Sixteen, for ensemble (1992, unfinished)