Cage Performs Cage: Empty Words With Music For Piano/One7

Featured works: "Empty Words (1973-74) with Music For Piano (1953)" and "One7" (1990). Performed by John Cage and Yvar Mikhashoff (piano). These recordings were made in Buffalo, New York in April 1991. Cage and Mode Records were in Buffalo to work on the premiere of his 'Europera 5,' which he wrote for Yvar Mikhashoff, a longtime collaborator and specialist in New Music. Cage and Mikhashoff had performed this special duet of 'Empty Words' simultaneous with 'Music For Piano' in concert several times, and decided to make this recording, without an audience, especially for Mode. The single sounds of 'Music For Piano,' many of them quiet, make for a beautiful counterpoint with the mysterious and somewhat lonesome voice of the elderly Cage. As part of the events surrounding 'Europera 5,' Cage gave a performance of the solo piece 'One7,' recorded in a live performance here.