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FIVE PIECES (after John Cage) (2013)

score video (15')

original toy piano compositions by elementary schoolers

Commissioned by Phyllis Chen for the 2013 UnCaged Toy Piano Festival

 

After listening and discussing the five movements of John Cage's Suite for Toy Piano, students (grades 1 through 5) created their own graphic scores corresponding to a movement of their choice. These scores were then interpreted in a variety of ways - by Phyllis Chen, the kids themselves on toy piano, and myself on music box, toy keyboard, Gameboy, toy reeds, and various other electronics. Among my own material, the resulting collage features approximately 60 mini-world premieres, grouped by the movement that inspired them and paired with their corresponding scores.

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