Sketching the Concert for Piano and Orchestra

Abstract

This chapter discusses Cage’s sketches for the Concert for Piano and Orchestra. It outlines both what can be said about Cage’s compositional process on the basis of sheets which directly detail aspects of it and on the basis of the traces of his process which can be found in the manuscript of the Solo for Piano. It details his work with jazz musicians in developing the instrumental parts for the piece, as well as unpacking further aspects of the actual process with reference to Music for Piano.