{"product_id":"4589538779955","title":"Latvijas Radio Koris (Latvian Radio Choir) - Cage: Choral Works - Import CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLatvijas Radio Koris (Latvian Radio Choir)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDescription:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmerican composer John Cage shook the very foundations of music and performance with his piece “4’33”,” in which the performer produces no sound at all. His experimental music and philosophy transcended the genre of music itself and influenced many artists.\nMany people may find it surprising to see Cage—who is said to have detested harmony—paired with “choral music.” He first composed a choral piece at the age of 67, transforming an existing work (a hymn by William Billings) into “variations” in his own style. While preserving the flavor of early American music, he sought to strip away the sense of harmony he so despised… After much trial and error, the result was “Hymn and Variations” for 12 voices.\nApart from this work, the only other choral piece Cage wrote was “Four2,” composed in 1990 for a high school choir. Cage referred to the serendipitous sounds arising from the overlapping of independent notes in each part—as a natural harmony unbound by theory or rules—as “Anarchic Harmony.”\nAlthough the other two pieces, “Five” and “Four6,” were not written for choir, they do not specify the instruments to be used; the five parts of “Five” are designated only for a specific range (primarily the high register), so any voice or instrument capable of performing within that range can be used. “Four6” offers even greater freedom of performance: not only are there no specifications for how the four parts should be played, but performers must also select notes at their discretion from a score that contains only a few notes, time signatures, and numbers. Consequently, the resulting sound and duration can vary completely depending on the performance.\n\nNone of the pieces feature prescribed lyrics, suggesting that Cage regarded the human voice as just another “instrument.”\nThe Latvian Radio Choir, conducted by Sigvards Klava—who received high acclaim for his performances in Japan—delivers a magnificent performance.\n\nThe Japanese edition includes a liner note by Kei Matsudaira, a specialist in contemporary vocal music.\nNaxos Japan\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ondine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53595663434017,"sku":"4589538779955","price":2970.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0568\/8482\/2076\/files\/4589538779955.jpg?v=1790482181","url":"https:\/\/cdsvinyljapan.com\/products\/4589538779955","provider":"CDs Vinyl Japan Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}