Let me tell you straightaway that this
is one of the most curious discs that
I have come across recently. First,
there is not a single mention of who
the player is. It may be Karen Krummel
who also plays in another CD from the
same source that I reviewed some time
ago. Second, one of the pieces One7
(1990) seems to have had a rather chequered
genesis. It apparently draws on the
extant material for One13
begun in 1992 (why is then One7
dated as from 1990?) and left unfinished
at the time of Cage’s death. Rob Haskins’
notes mention that "some evidence
suggests that One13
was to be for cello and three pre-recorded
cellos, and was to be composed entirely
of single notes, the production of which
would be determined by chance operations
chosen from ninety-eight possibilities".
I am not quite sure whether I understand
it all; but, yes, it uses long-held
single notes interspersed by variable
silences. Yes, the sound apparently
varies through the use of various bowing
techniques ... or so I suppose. As to
the other part of these comments, I
am not completely sure either, but it
all sounds to me as if some electronic
device has been used in one way or another.
All I can add to this, is that the piece
goes on like this for half an hour with
not much happening throughout that half
hour. The overall effect is what some
would describe as "hypnotic",
although others would probably find
it utterly boring.
Much the same could
be said of One8,
except that this is still longer, playing
for about three quarters of an hour.
Haskins again tells us that Cage wrote
One8 "to
take advantage of a curved bow which
enables a cellist to sustain chords
of three and even four different notes".
In fact, this piece is rather in the
same vein, except that sounds are more
varied, alternating single notes and
chords, and sometimes producing arresting
effects; but, again, non-developmental
music such as this is likely to appeal
and to repel as well depending on one’s
frame of mind. I found these pieces
much too long for their own good.
I wish that my reaction
to this release was more positive -
and it has nothing to do with the playing
of the uncredited cellist, far from
that. I am sure that fans of Cage’s
music will want to have it, whereas
others will have to judge for themselves,
I am afraid.
Hubert Culot
