John Cage: The Barton Workshop Plays John Cage (1992)

Just as Concert for Piano and Orchestra was perhaps the major Cage work of the 50s and Sonatas and Interludes for the 40s, so the performance of his Atlas Eclipticalis played to a critical acclaim in the 60s. To this day, however, one might wonder whether it's really all that necessary to sit down and concentrate furiously all the way through, or simply let the mind wander ("if the mind wanders, let it", as the composer once famously wrote). But even if you choose to spin this while you busy yourself with other more mundane tasks like picking mushrooms or consulting the I Ching, the occasional clashes of thundering percussions will soon shake you out of musical slumber.

Tracklist

Disc 1

1. Atlas Eclipticalis (45:15)
2. Concert for Piano and Orchestra (25:15)

Disc 2

1. Hymnkus (30:07)
2. Solo for Voice 22 & 79 (4:01)
3. Imitations II (2:39)
4. Solo for Voice 79 (4:00)
5. Music for Six (29:58)

Disc 3

1. Sonata for Clarinet (3:58)
2. Five (5:03)
3. Totem Ancestor (2:03)
4. Sonata for Two voices (3:44)
5. A Valentine out of Season (3:53)
6. Seven (51:56)

Barton Workshop:

Frank Denyer (Piano): 2.1, 3.3, 3.5
Marianne Schroder (Piano): 1.2, 2.5
Taco Kooistra (Cello): 3.6
Jos Tieman (Double Bass): 1.1, 1.2, 3.2, 3.6
1Anne La Berge (Flute): 1.1, 1.2
Jos Zwaanenburg (Flute & Bass Flute): 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.5, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6
John Anderson (Clarinet & Bass Clarinet): 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.3, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6
Krijn Van Arnhem (Bassoon): 1.1, 1.2, 2.1
Tim Dowling (Trombone): 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.5
James Fulkerson (Bass Trombone & Voice): 2.2, 2.4, 3.6
Marcel Andriessen (Percussion): 3.2, 3.6
Robyn Schulkowsky (Percussion): 2.5
Wim Konink (Percussion): 3.2, 3.6

Recorded in September 1992 at Robert Bosch Geluid, Paul Weijnenburg Studio and Hilversum Conservatorium.

Etcetera KTC 3002