John Cage : One4, Four [All Versions], Twenty-Nine / Christina Fong, Karen K

Fifth and final in a complete series of the Number Pieces (final works) for strings and/or percussion, this 66-minute CD features the world premiere recordings of John Cage's One4 and Twenty-Nine and is first to encompass all versions of Four.

Full title is: John Cage: One4, Four [all versions], Twenty-Nine

All Music Guide Title is: Cage: Four; Twenty-Nine

Featured Performer: John Cage

SPARS: DDD

Length: 66:22

Released: 2002

Booklet: 5 pages

Booklet printed in the following languages: English

From the All Music Guide:

Tiny, Internet-only OgreOrgress productions label, based in Grand Rapids, MI, has managed to score a coup in introducing at least two Cage premieres on its John Cage: Number Pieces 4. Percussionist Glenn Freeman is heard in the relatively low-key One4, with the player only stepping out on occasion from a six-minute-long veil of silence. It is attractive, but a bit more engaging are the six versions of Cage's final string quartet Four. In Cage's own description: 'There are three five-minute sections, A-C each having flexible time brackets and one which is fixed. There are four parts, each of which can be played by any of the players.' In this performance Christina Fong presumably takes the violin and viola parts through overdubbing and Karen Krummel provides the cello, although Fong is the most prominent player here. Each section is presented twice, and through suggested re-programming of the disc the listener can arrange this performance into versions lasting 10, 20, or 30 minutes. One wonders if the listener will bother to take the time to set up these strategies, but hearing the piece straight through is still a good way to acquaint oneself with Four and its lonely sonorities. The concluding Twenty-Nine lasts in minutes as long as its title. Here Fong and Krummel are joined by Freeman and bassist Michael Crawford. What starts as a disconnected set of pitches evolves into a wheezy, harmonium-like drone by about the 13th minute, and ultimately this sound spreads apart, like the blooming of a flower, for the rest of the duration. Twenty-Nine requires patience, but is a highly rewarding listening experience and very well realized in this recording. The only real letdown with John Cage: Number Pieces 4 is that the liner notes are printed in a broken spiral on the surface of the disc, making them nearly impossible to read by this notoriously far-sighted reviewer; others may not have this problem. Despite the rather fair cost of the disc, John Cage: Number Pieces 4 will prove a premium for Cageans who decide to take the plunge. ~ Uncle Dave Lewis, All Music Guide