Vir2Ual Cage

It’s about time we posted additional material from our epic Long Books performance on 5 February 2012.  First, we’ve added a gallery of twenty photos, taken by CalArts photographer Steve Gunther, to supplement the ones posted here.  Second, under our Media menu we’ve posted a recording that documents a fraction of the music from the four-hour event.  It’s a sort of compilation of excerpts recorded casually with a handheld recorder while walking freely among the several performance spaces, just as an observer might have done.  It amounts to a more or less random audio tour, not necessarily focusing on any particular performers, solos from Song Books, or other pieces that were performed along with them.  The material has been edited only minimally, to cross-fade from one excerpt to another, avoid obvious distractions, and maintain a fairly consistent level from one passage to the next.  The order of events was not changed.

At just over two hours, this is an admittedly Long Walk through the Long Books.  We don’t necessarily expect anyone to listen to the whole thing, at least not in one sitting (although doing so might be interesting for some performers, especially those who were occupied with their own activities instead of being able to roam around and observe others).  Then again, most operas are well over two hours long . . . and many seem even longer.  Anyway, in the spirit of Cage, how about wandering randomly through this soundscape, and enjoying it for what it is?

Cage said that “Projects involving many people and many interruptions go well,” and that “The more egos you have, the better chance you have of eliminating the ego altogether.”  How true this seems when producing an incalculable event with so many performers, support personnel, and logistical details.  Sincere thanks and congratulations to all involved for [...]

Vir2Ual Cage, the California Institute of the Arts, and over thirty participating performers cordially invite you to The Long Books: John Cage’s Complete Song Books on Sunday, 5 February 2012 from 4:00–8:00 p.m. at CalArts.  Admission will be free. We realize this event will conflict with the Super Bowl, but we assure you that it [...]

With a little over ten days remaining before our Long Books event on February 5th (Super Book Sunday), it’s time to review our plans, especially for participating performers who’ve not visited our workshops at CalArts.  If you’ll be performing, please let us know ASAP, if you haven’t already, all of the following: 1)  Which solos [...]

As mentioned in our previous post, the California Institute of the Arts will inaugurate its Cage centennial celebration with our performance of Song Books on Sunday, 5 February 2012, from 4:00–8:00 p.m.  “The Long Books” has to do not only with the length but the inclusion of all ninety solos for voice (that’s right, one [...]

By now many Cage aficionados know that 2012 marks the Cage centennial, which will be celebrated worldwide by an ever-expanding schedule of concerts, exhibitions, and other events.  In addition to the online premier of our Vir2Ual Cage project in September 2012, we’d like to add a few more events to the calendar.  Details will appear [...]

We have exciting plans for 2012, the Cage centennial year. Soon we’ll post information about upcoming performances, a symposium or two, and other events. Meanwhile, as we continue developing software to automatically generate renditions of Song Books, it occurs to us that one thing we could use more of is content with which to test [...]

After two weeks abroad, we’re still trying to catch up, especially in light of holidays and academic semesters.  We’d like to express heartfelt thanks to our generous and amazingly energetic hosts Marek Chołoniewski, Ivo Medek, Vít Zouhar, and their keen associates at the Academy of Musical Arts in Kraków, Janáček Academy of Music and Performing [...]

Vir2Ual Cage cordially invites you to our next performance of Song Books in Olomouc at Palacký University’s baroque Chapel of Corpus Christi (Kaple Božiho Těla) on 8 December at 19:00.  Jacqueline Bobak, Paul Berkolds, Carmina Escobar, and Mark Bobak will occupy the second half of the show; on the first half will appear pioneering composer/pianist [...]

Vir2Ual Cage cordially invites you to our next performance of Song Books in Brno in the Concert Hall of the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts (known as JAMU) on 7 December at 19:30.  Jacqueline Bobak, Paul Berkolds, Carmina Escobar, and Mark Bobak will be joined by students from JAMU as part of the [...]